NEW YORK — In desperate need of a win against a quality opponent, the Boston University men’s hockey team buckled down in the third period to beat Cornell 2-1 at Madison Square Garden.
The Terriers’ victory is the first since 2013 over the Big Red in Red Hot Hockey, the biennial showdown between BU and Cornell at “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”
The No. 19 Terriers (7-7-1, 4-4-0 Hockey East) picked up their third win in 10 tries against ranked opponents in front of a pro No. 17 Big Red (6-3-0, 5-1-0 ECAC) crowd. 17,478 people packed into MSG on Saturday night, the most since 2013.
Sophomore forward Nick Roukanakis drew a penalty, a hold against Cornell’s Michael Fisher, to set up BU’s first power play opportunity of the game at 6:08 of the first period by winning a gritty puck battle in the corner boards.
The Terriers took full advantage, finding the back of the net just nine seconds into the power play at 6:17.
BU won the opening faceoff and cycled the puck to sophomore forward Cole Eiserman at the right circle. Eiserman found fellow sophomore forward Kamil Bednarik alone in front of the net, who deflected the puck under the left arm of freshman goaltender Alexis Cournoyer.
The Big Red dominated the majority of the second period, hemming the Terriers in their defensive zone, and it resulted in Cornell knotting the game at one apiece at 15:00.
Freshman forward Reegan Hiscock capped off a long stretch of possession in the offensive zone for the Big Red, in which BU had multiple chances to clear the puck. Junior forward Ryan Walsh and sophomore forward Charlie Major picked up assists on Hiscock’s third goal of the season.
The third period looked to be much the same, but it was the Terriers who took the lead at 6:24 of the final frame courtesy of sophomore forward Cole Eiserman’s seventh goal of the year. It was his first since Oct. 24 and first since returning from his four-game absence with a lower-body injury.
A stretch pass from freshman defenseman Charlie Tretheway found a streaking Eiserman as he entered the offensive zone. Eiserman collected the puck, cut inside at the right circle, and beat Cournoyer five-hole.
The Big Red outshot the Terriers 29-17 in the contest. Here are four takeaways from the Big Apple.
Mikhail Yegorov came to play.
The Yegorov who showed up at Madison Square Garden was the player everyone expected to see in his first full collegiate season. The sophomore netminder was outstanding, turning aside 28 of the 29 shots he faced.
For long stretches, Yegorov kept the Terriers in the game. Yegorov moves well for his large 6-foot-5 frame, and his quick movements in the crease were on full display, as he limited second and third chances for Cornell. BU’s play in the defensive zone let him down on the Big Red’s first goal.
Yegorov loves the big stage. His game at Red Hot Hockey adds to his list of stellar performances in big games. He stopped 23 of 24 shots against Boston College on the road in his first start as a Terrier, he made 43 saves against the Eagles in the Beanpot final, and he recorded BU’s only shutout last season, stopping 30 shots against Providence. — Eli Cloutier
BU wasn’t that dangerous offensively.
Give credit to the Terriers for finding a way to win, and to Eiserman for making Cornell pay when it gave him a chance in the third period.
But for a team with as much skill as 20 NHL Draft picks provide, BU’s offensive output on Saturday night was pretty disappointing. Eiserman and star sophomore Cole Hutson had a couple impressive moments, but other than that, the Terriers lacked imagination in the offensive zone. Their attack was reduced to winning battles along the boards and sending in lazy wristers from the point. Cournoyer didn’t have much work to do.
The Big Red, ironically enough, made a lot of the plays you’d expect a roster like BU’s to make. Cornell’s transition play was especially impressive and, even if it tried to do too much at times, it at least had ideas in the offensive zone. BU, meanwhile, just didn’t look all that dangerous.
Even though the Terriers’ offense has been far from the biggest problem this season, it’s worth noting that BU has only scored nine regulation goals in its last four games. The Terriers might be making progress in other areas, but it can’t be coming at the cost of goals.
At the start of the season, BU wasn’t playing a simple enough game. Now the Terriers’ performances are almost too simple.
Either way, it’s not good enough. — Sam Robb O’Hagan
On Cornell’s only goal, BU was let down by what has been its only reliable defensive pairing.
Cole Hutson and Gavin McCarthy have been head coach Jay Pandolfo’s only reliable defensive pairing throughout this turbulent season. After Friday’s loss to Northeastern last weekend, he said, “We need to find a way to get some more from other guys. No question,” when asked about the defensemen not named Hutson and McCarthy.
However, it was BU’s two most reliable defensemen who contributed to Cornell’s game-tying goal with 5:00 remaining in the second period.
Hutson and McCarthy each had multiple opportunities to clear the defensive zone and failed to do so. With a loose puck near the boards, McCarthy and junior forward Jack Harvey both believed that the other would skate to it. Instead, neither did and Cornell freshman forward Chase Pirtle beat a half-hearted McCarthy to the puck sitting just outside the left circle.
10 seconds later, Hutson fanned on a puck behind the net, allowing the Big Red to cycle the puck back to the point. After a Cornell shot went wide, Hutson’s attempt at a shovel pass to Harvey was broken up. A pass along the end boards to McCarthy resulted in yet another unsuccessful clearance, as McCarthy banked a pass to Fisher waiting at the blue line.
Cornell netted the equalizer three passes later. — Henry Dinh-Price
Cole Eiserman was stellar.
Eiserman had his most impactful game for the Terriers since the season’s first two games, wins over LIU and Colgate.
The 2024 first-round pick supplied an assist on BU’s first goal and went five-hole against Cournoyer to net the second — the eventual game-winner.
Aside from just his goal contributions, Eiserman was clearly BU’s most dangerous forward. He did well entering the zone and connected with Hutson for multiple dangerous chances.
Eiserman has been criticized for only being a goal-scorer, but he was everywhere for the Terriers on Saturday night. — Dinh-Price