The term ‘special teams’ has started to take on a dual meaning when it comes to the No. 1 Boston University men’s hockey team.
For the better part of the 2008-09 season, one that saw another chapter added to its pages last night as the Terriers skated away with their record 29th Beanpot Tournament championship, BU has separated itself from the pack by excelling not only at even strength, but on the power play and the penalty kill.
Man up or man down, the Terriers have been a force to be reckoned with all year long. Last night’s 5-2 victory over No. 3 Northeastern University at TD Banknorth Garden was just the latest example.
After sophomore defenseman Colby Cohen showcased BU’s nation-best power play by blasting home a first-period slap shot, the Terrier penalty kill dominated the game in the second and third periods.
How much did it dominate? The final 40 minutes of play saw a total of seven Northeastern power plays. And three BU goals.’
‘The game was won on three shorthanded goals,’ BU coach Jack Parker said. ‘We get three shorthanded goals, and that’s the difference in the game. Our special teams were big for us tonight.’
First came sophomore forward Nick Bonino’s man-down tally 27 seconds into the second. Then, during a critical Northeastern 5-on-3 advantage midway through the third, the Terriers crushed any hopes the Huskies had of hoisting the ‘Pot for the first time since 1988.
‘That shorthanded [Bonino] goal was a shocker,’ NU coach Greg Cronin said. ‘That was kind of a bad omen.’
Northeastern exuded patience and poise in its bid to erase the Terriers’ 3-2 lead during its pivotal two-man advantage, cycling the puck with ease in the Terrier zone and applying steady pressure on BU freshman goaltender Kieran Millan.
But that all changed at 13:54, when BU freshman defenseman David Warsofsky collected the puck at his own blue line after a blocked Northeastern shot attempt, broke toward the NU zone for an odd-man rush with junior defenseman Eric Gryba, and beat Huskies junior goaltender Brad Thiessen to the glove side.
Sophomore forward Colin Wilson put the stamp on the Terriers’ special night 30 ticks later, powering an uncontested wrist shot past Thiessen to cap a similar 2-on-1 shorthanded rush led by sophomore defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk.
For a Northeastern team that had faced little in the way of adversity this season, to say BU’s shorthanded exploits came as a surprise would be a vast understatement.
‘You’d think we’re in good shape with seven minutes to go, and we have a power play and quality possession [on the 5-on-3],’ Cronin said. ‘Then, you get a scramble and they come down and get a shorthanded goal. They get one right away, and it was just a shock. Our bench was in shock that they scored two goals that quickly. I don’t care what level of hockey, you give up three shorthanded goals you’re not going to win.’
‘It’s a little bit of a sting,’ Northeastern senior forward Joe Vitale said. ‘We knew coming into this game that BU was an excellent transition team. Those forwards and defensemen jump up so quick. Shorthanded goals will kill you, and they did tonight.’
Suddenly armed with a three-goal cushion, BU knew the second Monday in February would be a night for celebration once again.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
‘A weight went off our shoulders,’ Bonino said. ‘We knew we still had to finish the last four minutes, and it was all business, but we were excited for the end of the game.’
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