By Arielle Aronson/DFP Staff
In the rubber game of the season series between No. 2 Boston University and No. 20 Maine, the Black Bears edged the Terriers, 3-1, and completed a weekend sweep.
Maine goaltender Dan Sullivan turned in another strong performance for the Black Bears, totaling 38 saves.
The Terriers were looking to stay more disciplined Saturday night, but they failed in that endeavor in the first period. BU took four penalties in the frame and managed to hold Maine off for most of the four power-play chances. Maine freshman John Parker negated BU’s effort, however, when he jumped on a loose puck out to Millan’s left and lifted it over Millan’s shoulder to give the Black Bears a 1-0 lead with 6.9 seconds left in the frame.
BU evened the score with a power-play goal 2:41 into the second. After Maine captain Brian Flynn was sent to the box for a trip, birthday boy Garrett Noonan tipped a shot off Adam Clendening’s stick past Sullivan for the score.
Maine regained the lead slightly over three minutes later, when junior Nick Pryor blasted a slap shot from the point off the post and in to give the Black Bears a 2-1 lead. The goal was the first of Pryor’s career, making him the 17th player to score his first collegiate goal against the Terriers this season.
Other than Pryor’s goal, however, BU controlled play in the second period. They entered the frame facing a 21-8 shot deficit but proceeded to out-shoot the Black Bears 19-6 in the period to even the shot total by the end of the period.
The Terriers continued to pepper the Maine net with shots from all angles in the third period, but Sullivan seemed to be prepared for every attempt and barely gave up any rebounds.
BU had a golden chance at the end of the third period when, with Maine on the power play, Flynn took a high sticking penalty. Senior captain Chris Connolly held onto the puck on the delayed call long enough to run down the Maine power play to 29 seconds, giving the Terriers a longer power play after the end of 4-on-4 play. BU could not get set up until the end of the power play, however, and failed to capitalize on the opportunity.
Matt Mangene clinched the win with an empty-net goal with 4.6 seconds left in the game.
BU coach Jack Parker was ejected from the game for yelling at the referees following the empty-net tally.
Worst officiated BU home game in 4 years
Out of the almost 500 BU games I’ve attended in person, that was arguably the most poorly officiated games I’ve ever seen. Absolutely pathetic and embarrassing display of officiating by Jeff Bunyon and Kevin Keenan. Bunyon has had his share of bad calls and bad games, but this was beyond atrocious. Keenan has been a ref in Hockey East since 2008 and has been consistently inconsistent, perhaps the worst ref in Hockey East.
Joe Bertagna has to be embarrassed by what he saw, especially given the game was nationally televised. The putrid officiating reflects poorly on Hockey East as a quality on-ice product for players to participate in, and fans to watch. If Bertagna REALLY cares about the product he presides over, he has to take swift and corrective action regarding the quality of officiating. I’ve watched plenty of ECAC, CCHA and WCHA games, and undoubtedly Hockey East officiating is inferior.
Unfortunately, because of how spineless Bertagna is as commissioner, and the cronyism he runs the league with (i.e. many of the referees & linesmen are friends/acquaintances with him), I doubt he’ll do much of anything.
Bunyon, and to a lesser extent, Keenan, embarrassed themselves and Hockey East with such an incompetent display of officiating.
Maine played a solid two-game series, and may have won all of the points with competent officiating instead of the travesty of what we saw.
The games would have been played differently with competent officiating. The results may have been the same. Or not. We’ll never know. But what we do know is that the nights turned in by Bunyon and Keenan were disgraceful.
Actually have to give Parker credit for not blowing up until the end. He could have done it much sooner, and been justified.
More crying about the refs? PATHETIC!
Interesting how there were no issues when BU got the calls in their favor.
Looks like midnight has struck, Cinderella