The No. 4 Boston University men’s hockey team that fans are used to showed up just in time this weekend.
After a slow start, the Terriers (5-3-1, 1-0-1 Hockey East) put together three goals in the third period to defeat No. 18 Michigan University 4-2 at Yost Arena on Saturday. The win gave BU the split after a poor outing in a 4-0 loss to the Wolverines (5-4-1) the night before.
Sophomore defenseman Charlie McAvoy and sophomore forward Jordan Greenway led the way with a goal and two assists each. Five of their six combined points came in the final frame. Freshman defenseman Dante Fabbro and freshman forward Pat Harper also scored for the Terriers. Freshman goaltender Jake Oettinger made 27 saves in the win in another strong showing.
The Terriers needed to come out of the gate strong after suffering their worst loss of the season Friday. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case, as Michigan’s Brendan Warren beat Oettinger from the slot 2:11 into the contest. Just like that, BU again found itself in an early hole.
The good news for BU head coach David Quinn’s squad, despite being outshot 14-6 in the opening period, was the few penalties they were called for throughout the game. Harper was called for roughing with Michigan’s Jason Sanchez with 11:19 left in the first, but that led to a 4-on-4.
BU was only on the penalty kill once in the first period, when McAvoy went to the box for tripping late in the frame. They went on to record only one more penalty in the game, something Quinn should be satisfied with after a tough start to the year penalty-wise.
In the second period, the Terriers came out with more energy and physicality, and they would soon be rewarded. On their first power play of the game, Harper dumped the puck to Fabbro, who skated to the right circle and fired the puck past Michigan goalie Jack Lafontaine to tie it up with 14:32 left in the second. It was his second goal of the year and Harper’s 12th point.
BU would take their first lead of the weekend about halfway through the final period, when McAvoy snuck down in front of the net in time for a pass from Greenway. Michigan’s goalie had no chance, and the Terriers were 10:56 away from an important bounce back victory.
Although Michigan’s Dancs would score soon after to tie it back up, Greenway responded with a goal of his own on a putback just over two minutes after Dancs’ goal. It was Greenway’s fifth time lighting the lamp this season, and came on assists from sophomore forward Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson and McAvoy.
Harper would put the game out of reach with 4:57 left to play in the game. He perfectly redirected sophomore forward Bobo Carpenter’s slapshot to beat Lafontaine and record his fifth goal.
The Terriers will now get back to Hockey East play when they travel to the University of Connecticut for a matchup with the Huskies on Friday. BU will then host UConn on Saturday.
Nick is currently writing for the Boston Hockey Blog. In the past, he has served as associate sports editor, and has covered men's and women's cross-country, women's soccer, men's basketball, and men's lacrosse for the Daily Free Press. You can keep track of Nick's exciting life by following him on Twitter at @nikfraz14
