Thursday, December 12, 2024

UPDATED Hutson Brothers power third period rally for 4-2 win at UMass; defkit's Terrier Takeaway


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#13 Terriers scored four unanswered goals, three in the final period, to rally past UMass, 4-2, at the Mullins Center. Freshman Cole Hutson had a pair of goals and two assists, while juniors Quinn Hutson and Devin Kaplan each tallied a goal.

Scroll down for defkit's Terrier Takeaway

Mathieu Caron was sharp in goal, keeping UMass from extending its lead until the BU offense got untracked. 

The Terriers finish the semester at 9-6-1 overall and 5-3-1 in the conference, putting them in a four-way tie for second place in the Hockey East standings.  

“Similar to the game over in Ireland versus Notre Dame, it just felt like they weren’t going to be denied tonight,” head coach Jay Pandolfo told the Boston Hockey Blog. “They were going to find a way to win this hockey game.”

Just as BU, down 2-0, went on its third power play late in the second period. BU broadcast analyst Mark Linehan implored, “You’ve got to get one here. Then, it can snowball.”

Prophetic words. Kaplan cleaned up a rebound at the goal mouth for a power-play tally, cutting the deficit in half and getting BU off a 98-minute Michael Hrabel schneid. Then, it was the Hutson Brothers show in the final period to tie and overtake the Minutemen.

Echoing Saturday's loss, UMass put one on the board early, just 1:41 into the game. Cole Hutson's defensive zone turnover led to a Kenny Connors shot from the right circle. Caron defended it but lost track of the rebound and Jack Musa circled the cage and found the puck in the blue paint for a tap in.

 

Late in the period, Cole Eiserman set up Jack Hughes for a scoring chance, but Hrabel turned it away and the period ended 1-0 UMass

Second period saw BU playing with more urgency and they would outshoot their hosts, 15-8.  After Aiden Celebrini’s toe-drag and shot was defended, Cole Hutson fired a shot off the outside of the post. Then, midway through the period Cole Hutson deked through defenders to put a shot on goal and followed it with a slick pass to set up a Kamil Bednarik attempt.

BU had the momentum, but another defensive gaffe turned into another UMass goal at 13:09. Gavin McCarthy attempted to keep the puck in the offensive zone, but Aydar Suniev beat him to it, punched it ahead to Cole O’Hara and raced toward the BU end. He took a return pass behind the defense and fired a shot through Caron’s five-hole. 

Late in the period BU was on a power play with the second unit out. Cole Hutson and Eiserman traded passes and then Eiserman fired a hard, low shot from the right circle to create a rebound that Kaplan jammed home to bring BU within one goal. It was the junior wing’s third goal of the season.

As the game headed into the third period, Linehan's broadcast partner, Bernie Corbett reminded BU fans that with the team trailing, 2-1, the mission was "win the third, win the game."

But the period didn't start well for the Terriers with penalties to Celebrini and Sascha Boumedienne in the first 5:41. BU killed both, limiting the Minutemen to a combined three shots.

Moments after the second kill, Hughes controlled the puck deep in the offensive zone and handed the puck off to Cole Hutson. He skated around the top of the right circle into the high slot and fired a shot that found its way through multiple bodies and past Hrabel to tie the score at two apiece. It was his third goal of the season. Quinn Hutson had the second assist.  

A UMass penalty gave BU its fourth man-advantage of the game and just 1:07 after his first goal, Cole Hutson struck again. Kaplan dished the puck to Jack Harvey at the left board and he passed to Cole Hutson just inside the blueline. The freshman defenseman closed to the top of the left circle, faked a pass and drilled a shot that went off the left post and in to give BU the lead, 3-2.  

The Terriers weren't done scoring in bunches as they had in the two Belfast games. Just three minutes after taking the lead, BU scored on the rush. Cole Hutson picked off a pass in the defensive zone and headed up ice on a 3-on-2. He passed to Eiserman skating up the left side. The freshman wing cut to the middle and slid the puck to Quinn Hutson behind the defense, The oldest of the Hutson brothers faked Hrabel out of position and backhanded the puck past him to the stick side. His fifth goal made it 4-2 BU.

BU played some its best defensive hockey the rest of the way, allowing just four UMass shots after the two successful penalty kills earlier. With five minutes remaining, Cole Hutson nearly completed a hat trick with another shot off iron, but this one stayed out.

Terriers outshot UMass 33-24 and also had a decided edge at the face-off dot, winning 33 of 57 draws. BU blocked 18 shots with Shane Lachance and McCarthy each blocking four.

 Pandolfo made changes to the power play, which had struggled recently, putting Matt Copponi and Tom Willander on the first unit. BU converted two of five chances. The Terrier penalty kill went 3-for-3 against the UMass power play that ranked third in the NCAA at 29.4%.

defkit's Terrier Takeaway

- Overall a strong effort to go into the break on a high note.

- The first half of the first period was rough, with no sustained offensive pressure or forecheck. As the game went on, BU was able to improve the forecheck and start tipping the scales.

- The defense really struggles under pressure. It seems more teams are realizing this and forcing BU to work through it. The defensemen often underestimate the opponent's ability to get sticks on their passes. That is what led to the first UMass goal after Cole Hutson made a risky pass up the middle of the ice. The second goal was the result of a misjudgement on a pinch by McCarthy. I don't fault him for taking an aggressive approach. At the time, BU was finally having success sustaining offensive pressure by pinching in and keeping the puck in UMass' zone.

- Credit to Cole Huston for shaking off the early giveaway and a somewhat weak tripping call to take over the game and get 4 points. I thought his brother was going to pass it to him at the goalmouth on the 4th goal for a hat trick. Perhaps Hrabal thought the same thing and that is why Quinn was able to lift the puck over his pad for the goal.

- Caron had a strong game in net. He made one incredible stop on a point blank chance off a feed from behind the net.

 

● GoTerriers.com recap and box score

● Boston Hockey Blog Behind Cole Hutson’s heroics, BU men’s hockey downs UMass 4-2

● Boston Hockey Blog Three takeaways from the BU men’s hockey team’s 4-2 victory at UMass

● WTBU Sports Hutson brothers shine in third period, erasing 2-goal deficit for 4-2 win over UMass

Looking ahead

On Friday, BU will play its annual exhibition game against the NTDP U18s, whose line-up includes 2025 recruits Conrad Fondrk, Jack Murtagh and Charlie Trethewey. A fourth recruit, Carter Amico is out following leg surgery.  7 p.m. at Agganis.

2025 NHL Draft: Early Looks at American Prospects | Inside The Rink

Last night, Murtagh assisted on two goals in the U18s' 3-1 win against Muskegon. With a 10-9-19 line in 18 games, he's second on the team in scoring. Video highlights.

2026 recruit Luke Schairer assisted on a pair of goals in the NTDP U17s 3-1 win over Finland to begin the Vierumäki Cup tournament. Schairer, a 6'2" defenseman has 12 points in 21 games for Team USA.

Looking back

Brady Tkachuk scored his 14th goal and added his 17th assist in Ottawa's 5-1 win against the Ducks.

If you missed Tuesday's live Morning Cuppa Hockey podcast with Kevin Shattenkirk joining Colby Cohen and Jonny Lazerus, you can find it here.  A good listen.

 

 

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