The No. 2 Boston University men’s hockey team was unable to overcome a two-goal deficit to secure a win against Minnesota State University on Saturday night. The Mavericks (2-1) completed their weekend sweep over the Terriers (2-2) with a 3-0 win.
“Well, obviously a disappointing weekend, but tonight was a different type of disappointment in the fact that we lost,” BU head coach David Quinn said. “Last night it was disappointing that we lost and I was very disappointed with the way we played.”
Saturday night started off similar to the Friday night — filled with many penalties from Minnesota State and the Terriers outshooting their opponent.
BU had three power play opportunities within in the first 12 minutes of the game, but were unable to capitalize despite putting up a collective five shots on those chances.
The Terriers also outshot the Mavericks 12-5 in the first period, but that number significantly dropped to in the second period and the Terriers were outshot 14 to four. Minnesota State ended the game only outshooting BU by 28-26.
Minnesota State head coach Mike Hastings said his team’s junior goaltender Jason Pawloski is what kept his team in the contest.
“Tonight I thought our goaltending was exceptional in the first period,” Hastings said. “To not be down at the end of the first period, being in the box that we were and then the possession time [BU] had in zone. He was, I think, the difference maker tonight.”
Minnesota State came out with a fast and physical game once again, but BU was able to keep pace and its defense did not let up any goals.
Neither team was able to get through either goaltender and went into the first intermission with the scoreline at 0-0.
Despite scoring the first goal of the night on Friday, the Terriers were unable to survive their third penalty kill in the second period due to a penalty for too many men on the ice.
Mavericks defenseman Ian Scheid got a shot off on the left face-off circle and forward Nick Rivera was able to poke the puck into the goal at 7:15.
BU’s captain and senior defensemen Brandon Hickey said he liked his team’s physical response compared to the first game of the series, but that his team needs to focus on making simple plays.
“I thought we got a little bit away from that in the second period and they hemmed us in our zone,” Hickey said. “Once we were playing simple, we were in there and all over them so it’s disappointing, but motivating as well.”
Minnesota State got another chance when senior defenseman Clint Lewis got the puck through traffic. However, the goal was nullified due to goalie interference and the score stayed at 1-0.
The Terriers were unable to capitalize on the null goal and the Mavericks did so instead.
Forward Marc Michaealis got a feed to senior forward Zeb Knutson who shot it towards BU sophomore goaltender Jake Oettinger who blocked it, but senior forward C.J. Suess was able to get past freshman forward Ty Amonte to get the goal through to the open net.
Going into the final frame, the Terriers were unable to come back and could not convert on its lone power play opportunity in the beginning of the third period.
BU ended up going zero-for-four on its power play and Quinn said he’d like to see his team get more shots.
“I’d like to shoot more on the power play,” Quinn said. “I’d like to shoot earlier, [and] a little more patience.”
Minnesota State’s Michaelis got an empty-net goal to seal the Mavericks’ 3-0 win over the Terriers at home.
Junior forward Bobo Carpenter said the series taught the team “how to play an older team.”
“We can’t make silly mistakes like making soft plays through the middle of the ice,” Carpenter said. “We got to make sure we bear down and really take care of the puck and I think when we do that, as we saw the first couple of games, we really played well and you could see the pace of play was something special that we created. I think we got away from that this weekend.”
