Saturday, March 15, 2025

UPDATED: Game Day: Terriers host UMass in QFs; Four named as conference all-stars; Women fall to Clarkson in NCAA Regional

Game Day graphic featuring posed photo of Cole Eiserman. #7 BU vs. #14 UMass, March 15, 4:30 PM at Agganis Arena on ESPN+ and NESN+         

#9/7 Terriers will take to the Agganis Arena ice one final time this season as they face #14 UMass in the Hockey East Quarterfinals. Puck drop on ESPN+ is at 4:30 p.m. with both ESPN+ and NESN+ providing live streams.
 
BU-UMass is the first of three Saturday quarterfinals with Maine-Lowell at 6 p.m. and BC-Northeastern at 7:30. UConn won its quarterfinal Friday, beating Providence, 3-1.
 
The Terriers and Minutemen split a home-and-home series in early December with UMass winning, 4-0 and BU responding with a 4-2 victory in the final series of first semester for both teams. BU’s record stood at 9-6-1 while UMass was 8-7-2.
 
Since then, UMass has won 12 times with five losses and three ties, and, in February and March, they are 6-2-3, including wins against Maine and BC. The Terriers are 11-6-1 since the break, with a 6-3-1 mark in the last ten, including wins over BC and Providence (twice).
 
Following the Minutemen’s 2-1 win over Vermont in the tournament’s opening round, Coach Jay Pandolfo noted that the game wasn’t indicative of how well UMass has played recently.
 
"I watched them against Maine over the weekend and they were excellent," he said. "They have two lines that are very good and can score. They have D that are active offensively. Defensively, they don't let you get to their net. Their goaltender is playing very well. They're clicking on all cylinders right now. We have to make sure we're at our best."
 
UMass’ top line is led by the top overall scorer in the conference, Cole O’Hara, with 50 points (22G,28A) including the game-winner against Vermont. His linemates are Jack Musa (34 points) and Lucas Mercuri (31). A dangerous second line features Aydar Suniev (35) Dan Locmelis (29) and Daniel Jenčko (14), who was out for the Vermont game. The Minutemen have the #10 offense in D1, averaging 3.38 ppg.
 
The D-corps is led by All-Rookie Team member Francesco Dell’Elce (22), Lucas Olvestad (19) and Owen Murray (13).
 
6’7” goalie Michael Hrabal, who was in the net for Czechia in the World Juniors, has a 2.32 GAA and a .927 save percentage. He’s allowed just 13 goals in the last seven games.
 
BU's offense, ranked #4 in D1 and averaging 3.79 ppg, continues to be led by Quinn Hutson (46 points), Cole Hutson (39), Ryan Greene (32) and Cole Eiserman (29). Eiserman and Quinn Hutson each have 20 goals. 

Discussing Quinn Hutson who has set career marks in goals and points, Pandolfo said, "He's been a very productive player for us over the last three years. He's really rounded out the rest of his game too. He's a much better defensive player... he's been a huge part of our success that we've had in the last two years."
 
On Eiserman successfully rounding out his overall game, the third-year coach noted, "He got his 20th the other night and he's really, really playing well right now, playing his best hockey of the year for us. I go back to the UConn game...he had some scoring chances and the puck didn't go in the net for him, but he had an impact on the game from a physicality standpoint, forechecking standpoint [and was] really good defensively."
 
In 12 starts for the Terriers, freshman goalie Mikhail Yegorov has allowed two or fewer goals in 10 games and one or fewer in five games. His 1.82 GAA ranks third in Hockey East while his .936 save percentage is second best.  
 
 

Both teams have strong power plays with BU at #4 nationally (.270) and UMass at #10 (.250). The Terriers penalty kill is at 77.2% for the year, but is much improved since Pandolfo has switched to a more aggressive approach. Over the past eight games, the PK is 87.5%
Today's Terrier line-up
Second and third line right wings are flipped. Mick Frechette replaces Jack Page who was DQ'd in the Vermont game.
 
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● GoTerriers.com preview, Game Notes, Live Stats, BU All-Access (audio) BU Men’s Hockey Twitter

● Live Stream ESPN+
● BU Hockey Stats Quarterfinal Preview

Cole Hutson, the top-scoring defenseman in Hockey East and a unanimous pick for All-Rookie, was named a first-team All-Star on Friday.  Quinn Hutson and Tom Willander were second-team All-Star selections and Ryan Greene gained third-team All-Star honors. Willander also was a second-team All-Star last season. Terriers have been named league All-Stars 98 times.

● HockeyEastOnline All-Star Teams Announced  

  


This week's episode of Inside BU Hockey features Bernie Corbett's interviews with Pandolfo and Cole Hutson.
 
Looking ahead 

2025 recruit Jack Murtagh scored a pair of goals, his 19th and 20th, in the NTDP U18s'  5-4 win against Madison.  Charlie Trethewey recorded an assist for the U18s.     

2025 recruit Jack Pridham scored his 25th goal in Kitchener's 6-0 win over North Bay. The Blackhawks' draft pick has 49 points in 44 games since joining the Rangers in November. 

TheHockeyWriters.com's March draft rankings includes Murtagh #31, Sascha Boumedienne #33, Trethewey #36, Conrad Fondrk #37, Carter Amico #40 and Haoxi Simon Wang #46.


Women's Team

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#11 Terriers' season came to an end as the Hockey East champions dropped a tight, defensive battle to #9 Clarkson, 3-1, in the Madison NCAA Regional. They finish the season at 24-12-2.

The Golden Knights produced all the scoring they would need in a 31-second span of the opening period.  An even-strength goal at 5:09 was followed by a power-play goal at 5:40.

After a scoreless middle period, BU pressed to cut into the lead in the third, firing 13 shots on goal. They finally got on the board with an extra-attacker goal from Lindsay Bochna with four minutes left in regulation. 

Terriers would get no closer as a Clarkson empty-netter in the final minute closed out the scoring.

● GoTerriers.com recap and box score.

● Post-game Coach Tara Watchorn, Bochna, Julia Shaunessy

● Boston Hockey Blog recap

 

 

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