With big Hockey East points on the line, the Boston University men’s hockey team looked to follow up with a win to secure a sweep against the UMass Minutemen after edging out a 1-0 win at Mullins Center.
Tonight, the Minutemen gave the Terriers a taste of their own medicine. The Terriers coming into this contest had won five of their last six games dating back to December 22nd of last year and ranked third in Hockey East (just before puck dropped at 6 p.m.)
Cole Hutson’s No. 44 was a notable absence from the roster sheet, who was replaced by Malte Vass on the left side of the top pairing. To continue its surge into the new year, BU had to finish the weekend without their star man on the blue line.
BU paced UMass in the shots category early on in the first. Similar to Friday night, the Terriers did a good job passing well and keeping the Minutemen to the outside when they entered the offensive zone.
BU was rewarded with a power play opportunity courtesy of a trip by UMass’s Matthew Wilde on Conrad Fondrk at 10:25. It took the Terriers some time to establish zone time. When they settled in, they possessed the puck and created some opportunities but nothing found the back of UMass goalie Michael Hrabal’s net.
Shortly after, a mistake for BU broke the scoring seal. At 8:21, BU goaltender Mikhail Yegorov exited his net to play a puck from a UMass dump in as the man-advantage expired, Vaclav Nestrasil pounced on Yegorov, stole the puck and wrapped it around the net to give the Minutemen a 1-0 lead.
From there, the Terriers had a difficult time stringing together the momentum they were building the first half of the frame.
BU entered the second period with its second power play opportunity from a UMass trip by Mikey DeAngelo as time expired in the first. Although the Terriers couldn’t tally a goal, more ice opened up as Jonathan Morello and UMass’s Justin Kerr received matching roughing penalties.
On the 4 on 4, UMass scored again but the goal was called back. Jack Musa beat the glove of Mikhail Yegorov but there was contact with his trapper. Minuteman forward Bo Cozman hit Yegorov’s glove while Musa fired the puck. After a challenge from Jay Pandolfo, they reversed the call.
Jack Harvey went to the box for tripping at 14:08 not long after. BU stayed solid on the kill, clearing loose pucks when they could, keeping sticks in passing lanes and even playing keep away with the puck when they could.
The second period finished with the Minutemen ahead in shooting, they led 10 to 5 in shots on goal, with a much higher jump in their game. They pressured BU’s defenders when the Terriers were establishing breakouts and forced quick passes.
BU entered the third period with another power play because of the too-many-men penalty on UMass but ultimately could not convert on the advantage in the beginning of the third period.
Throughout the latter half of the game, BU made a few lineup shifts among their forward lines and defensive pairings to find some consistency. Despite the changes, the Minutemen didn’t get fazed and continued to frustrate the Terriers with continuous pressure to the outside and forcing turnovers on BU’s breakouts.
BU pulled its goalie at 1:51 to go in the third period but an extra attacker ultimately did not help them. UMass’s Jack Musa scored a full ice goal from his own defensive zone to ice the game 2-0.
This Story will be updated.