Saturday, February 07, 2026

Terriers edge Maine on Ritchie OT goal

 

Ryder Ritchie celebrates with his teammates after his OT goal against Maine 

                 Photo credit Eliza Nuestro

Ryder Ritchie scored 1:42 into overtime to deliver a 3-2 Terrier victory of Maine at a packed Agganis Arena. BU erased two one-goal deficits on goals by Jack Murtagh and Cole Eiserman setting the stage for the overtime win. Mikhail Yegorov backstopped the win with a particularly strong 28-save efforts.

Ironically, it was Ritchie, who appeared to score the OT game-winner in Monday’s Beanpot semifinal, only to see it waived off due to a BU penalty. Postgame he told the media, “It felt good. It's kind of funny how hockey works sometimes"

The victory was the Terriers' first on home ice since the 2-1 win against Vermont on December 5. It also was BU's eighth consecutive home ice win over the Black Bears. 

The opening period was scoreless but Maine had a clear territorial and shot advantage. The Black Bears' tenacious forcecheck harassed the Terriers in their D-zone and broke up attempts to get pucks deep in the Maine end. BU's best scoring chance came at the end of a penalty to Eiserman. As he left the penalty box, he was sprung for a breakaway, but his shot went off the right post.

The visitors opened the scoring early in the second period when Frank Djurasevic skated through the right circle and fired a sharp angle shot over Yegorov's shoulder. Big Mike apparently wasn't expecting the shot from the goal line extended and didn't have the top of the net covered--his only mistake of the night.

BU needed less than two minutes to respond, scoring on the rush. Cole Hutson took an entry pass from Gavin McCarthy, then set up Murtagh for a one-timer from the right circle that beat Albin Boija high to the glove side. It was the freshman's fourth goal.

Midway through the period, Maine retook the lead. Terriers were unable to clear a loose puck just outside the crease and with bodies falling, Max Scott lofted the puck over the pile and past the screened Yegorov.  

With BU on the penalty kill as the third period began, Ben Merrill raced up ice on a breakaway. Boija stopped his initial attempt as well as a follow up to keep the score 2-1. 

Terriers went on their only power play at 3:42 and the first unit made it count. Jack Harvey took a pass from Merrill as he entered the offensive zone. He held the puck, then threaded it to the slot where Eiserman wired a wrister high over Boija's glove. It was his 11th goal and first since he scored twice against Providence. 

Both teams stepped up the pace and scoring chances throughout the period with the Terriers and Bears each firing 15 shots on goal. With less than four minutes left in regulation, Yegorov stoned Josh Nadeau's breakaway attempt.

On the overtime game-winner, Sascha Boumedienne carried the puck through the neutral zone. He faked a drop pass, crossed the blue line drawing two defenders, and sent the puck to Ritchie in the high slot. The freshman wired a low shot that beat Boija to the glove side for his fifth goal of the season. Harvey collected his second assist of the night.

Final shots were 26-26. BU blocked 24 shots, led by Boumedienne with nine.  blocked 

Image  

                    Graphic courtesy of BU Hockey Stats 

● GoTerriers.com recap and box score  

● Highlights; Post-game Pandolfo and Ritchie

● Boston Hockey Blog Ryder Ritchie lifts BU men’s hockey past Maine, 3-2 in overtime

  Beanpot lands Boston institution for first corporate sponsor - Boston Business Journal 

►► Click here for information and registration links for the 21 BU Beanpot Watch Party locations across the country.

 

Looking ahead 

2026 recruit Viktor Norringer scored his 14th and 15th goals in Muskegon's 5-2 win against Chicago. The 6'3" right wing from Sweden has a 15-15-30 line in 32 games, including seven goals in his last six games.

 Carter Amico recorded his fourth assist on Norringer's first tally.     

2027 recruit Brady Knowling stopped 32 shots in the NTDP U18s' 5-4 win over Sweden in the Five Nations tournament in Switzerland. It was his sixth win in his last seven starts.

 

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