Cole Eiserman was snakebit.
His game is built around his scoring touch. When he isn’t finishing, it stands out. And as BU’s struggles peaked in January and early February, Eiserman’s inability to break through became even more glaring.
Across a nine-game stretch from UMass on Jan. 9 to Maine on Feb. 2, he scored just twice — both from faceoff plays in the same outing against Providence. And even in that game, Eiserman missed on multiple Grade A chances.
“It really wasn’t that long compared to what other guys deal with,” head coach Jay Pandolfo said of Eiserman’s scoring drought. “But for him, it’s long.”
But now, Eiserman’s scoring touch is back — and it’s arrived at the most crucial point of the season. With BU backed into a position where it must win Hockey East to reach the NCAA Tournament, the Terriers need goals more than ever, and Eiserman is finally delivering again.
Eiserman has tallied in seven of the last eight games, including his three-point performance (two goals, one assist) against Vermont in the opening round of the Hockey East Tournament.
“You need your players that you rely on to score to come up big in big games, and he did that,” Pandolfo said.
At 17:16 of the first period, Cole Hutson wristed a pass across the slot, and Eiserman rifled home his signature one-timer on the power play. It was the type of play that was a token of last season’s lethal man-advantage — a look that’s been far harder to come by for this year’s unit.
BU’s power play currently sits at 50th in the country. In two of its attempts against Vermont, however, it looked much better.
When the Terriers had possession of the puck on the man-advantage, they funnelled it to Eiserman, who peppered shots from the left circle.
“Sometimes it’s going to go in, and sometimes they’re gonna block, but you can’t really try to do anything different, and you have to stick to the game plan,” Eiserman said.
BU’s second period was not strong. The Terriers got away from their play, and it cost them Vermont’s tying goal.
Opening the third period, Eiserman extended BU’s lead — the game-winner — off a feed from freshman forward Tynan Lawrence, who won a gritty forecheck battle and centered a pass to Eiserman, standing wide open in the low slot.
“Once Eiserman got that goal, you could just tell — I don’t know if it was almost relief on the bench, but it had a bit of that feeling,” Pandolfo said. “And it just seemed like we got our confidence back.”
Mere minutes later, Eiserman drew a penalty, sending BU to the power play once again.
With his spot in the left circle clogged up by the Catamounts, he reverted the puck to Gavin McCarthy, who found Hutson for the third goal of the game.
His scoring ability wasn’t just on display against Vermont; it was a willingness to go for pucks, be aggressive on the forecheck and follow through with plays. He showed the type of play Pandolfo has harped on all season.
Heading into the Hockey East quarterfinal against UConn, BU has no margin for error. The Terriers have to score; if they don’t, their season ends on Saturday.
But with high-end players like Eiserman finally producing at this vital stage of the season — something BU has been waiting on for months — there’s a renewed sense of possibility. His resurgence doesn’t just give the Terriers goals, it gives them confidence. For a team that’s been searching for both, that matters.
Still, it can’t be a one-man rescue mission. If BU is going to extend its season again, Eiserman’s surge has to be matched by the group around him, but his continued contribution will be essential.
“It’s been his whole life. He’s always scored at every level wherever he’s been,” Pandolfo said.
