By Jake Seiner/DFP Staff
Offense – Grade B
The Terriers were outshot 43-27 by the Warriors –– 26-14 through the first two periods –– and Nick Bonino said the Terriers lacked any consistent even-strength offense through the first two periods. Still, BU turned things around quickly in the third, knocking home consecutive even-strength tallies before netting an empty-netter to ice the game late. Bonino shelled out four assists, while Ross Gaudet and Joe Pereira each tallied goals and assists on each other’s goals.
Defense – Grade C-
Twice the Terriers turned and watched as Merrimack skaters blew by them to the net and beat netminder Grant Rollheiser. The Warriors scored two even-strength goals, adding another with the extra attacker with 1:14 left to go. Merrimack’s first goal was likely the worst defensive effort on BU’s part for the night, as Carter Madsen picked up a puck at the blue line and made a deke to the slot that left Eric Gryba watching the rest of the play from his rear out by the left faceoff dot.
Goaltending – Grade A-
Rollheiser was, by Jack Parker’s account, BU’s best player on the ice Saturday night. Rollie the Goalie turned away 39 Merrimack shots –– a personal career high –– and improved his season record to 2-0-3. In the third period, the Warriors peppered Rollheiser with 17 shots –– nine from Grade-A areas. For the game, Rolheiser turned away 19-of-21 shots from below the faceoff dots.
Special Teams – Grade B+
A night after going 0-for-8 on the power play, BU put up a 2-for-6 effort –– Colby Cohen got both goals –– Saturday against what proved to be a tough Merrimack penalty kill. Parker was pleased with his power-play’s efforts after the game, noting that he thought Merrimack did an excellent job on the PK. On the flip side, BU kept one of the nation’s best power plays to a respectable 1-for-5 performance, though the Terriers did allow nine shots to the Warriors while a man down.
X-Factor – The Wade Megan Line
Megan gets his name in the headline for being the center, but Joe Pereira and Ross Gaudet stole the show Saturday night. A night after Pereira created a goal for Gaudet with a forced turnover and a centering pass, the pair connected twice for tallies Saturday –– Pereira assisted on Gaudet’s opening tally and Gaudet returned the favor by assisting on Pereira’s winner in the third. The pair’s high energy and quick skating have been wreaking havoc with opponents, especially over the last two nights.
For what it’s worth, the 12-penalty second period gets an honorable mention for this.
Colby Cohen’s two goals earned him the first star of the game from Hockey East, but it really was Rollheiser in a walk.
This game highlights the frustration of Colby Cohen for me this season. He is great at one-timers, he has a quick release, a rocket shot that is accurate, he is big, strong and can move the puck. When he is motivated to do so.
The bottom line is that he doesn’t always hustle on defense, and that causes problems. Talent only wins out when it is combined with effort.
That is why Colby is having an inconsistent and uneven season, and BU is experiencing the same.
It must be frustrating for Parker.
Colby Cohen is an impact player, when he gives a consistent and persistent effort. I hope he realizes that is eventually the difference between a nice NHL career and a lot of long bus rides in the AHL.
Late in periods, and particularly in the defensive zone, Parker needs to consider having Popko take the faceoffs instead of Bonino. Bonino is BU’s most talented forward, but Popko is their best faceoff man. If the Terriers need to win a faceoff, Popko is that man.
I’d like to see more out of Vinny Saponari to be honest with you. That back to net pass to set up the goal was beautiful, and an indication of the talent that he has in him, if he could find his way to some consistency