The reign of the Boston University women’s ice hockey team as the best penalty killing squad in Hockey East was ended by Boston College this weekend as the Eagles (13-7-4, 12-2-1 Hockey East) netted three power play goals in 5-2 and 2-1 wins over the Terriers (10-11-4, 5-8-2).
BU had an 88.8 percent penalty kill rate prior to the series against the Eagles, but the three goals dropped them to second behind the University of Maine’s 88.2 percent. Although it is only a slight drop, the Terriers’ inability to shut down BC during the power play put them at an even greater disadvantage than they already were coming in as the inexperienced underdog.
“They took advantage of early opportunities and did not give us any opportunities,” said BU coach Brian Durocher. “They found a way to capitalize early and we didn’t.”
The Terriers were in penalty trouble early and often during the first game of the series on Saturday. Freshman Erin Seman was sent to the box less than five minutes into the first period for tripping and BC converted on the power play with a goal by sophomore Sarah Feldman.
Terrier junior captain Cara Hendry netted a power play goal of her own in the first, but the Eagles ended the period with a commanding 3-1 lead.
In the second, Feldman struck again on the man advantage. She made a great move around the shorthanded Terrier defense from the right side of the net to the left and unloaded a shot into the corner for her 11th goal of the season. It was the second time in as many games that BU allowed two power play goals to the Eagles.
“We could have played with more confidence,” Durocher said. “We were a little nervous coming into this game and there was a little uncertainty in our locker room. BC, meanwhile, played fast and loose hockey.”
To add insult to injury, the Terriers failed to take advantage of their own power play chance early in the third and ended up surrendering a shorthanded goal when senior Jill McInnis buried a beautiful pass from freshman Becky Zavisza. For the game, BU committed 10 penalties, including one that gave the Eagles a 5-on-3 advantage midway through the third period.
“I wasn’t concerned with the number of penalties, just the power play goals,” Durocher said.
The Terriers converted on their final man advantage, but the game was already out of reach. Freshman Laurel Koller found the back of the net on a hard slapshot from the right faceoff circle, but by that time the Eagles were on their way to a sixth consecutive win, 5-2.
In the second game on Sunday, BU played a far better game but gave up a critical power play strike that turned out to be the game-winner.
Trailing 1-0 and skating shorthanded, the Terriers allowed a blast from Eagles’ freshman Maggie Taverna to find the back of the net. Taverna got the puck at the blueline right after a faceoff and let a shot go that went through the five-hole of Allyse Wilcox. Durocher credited Taverna’s goal in part to his team’s mistake in attacking her rather than preparing to block the shot.
“We have been playing a more aggressive style recently,” he said. “We need to implement new things while also avoiding the small mistakes to compete better.”
Meanwhile, the Terriers’ offense couldn’t muster much against goalie Alison Quandt and the BC defense. BU got off only 19 shots, with just one of them touching twine, and went 0-for-6 on its own power play.
“We had two power play goals [Saturday], but today we could not get deep enough in their zone,” Durocher said following yesterday’s loss. “But I am happy with the way we played against a first-place team.”