Pluses and Minuses: Untimely BU penalty leads to 3-1 loss to Friars

PROVIDENCE, R.I.  – For the coaches of both the No. 18 Boston University and No. 3 men’s hockey teams, when the teams took each other on in a home-and-home tilt this weekend it displayed one thing for sure – some typical Hockey East play.

Since the beginning of the season, many of the coaches have discussed the parity in the conference, and this weekend’s games showed just that.

While BU (4-4, 2-1 Hockey East) and the Friars (5-1-1, 1-1 Hockey East) eventually split the weekend series, both contests featured a tie heading into the third period. With Providence’s 3-1 win on Saturday, the team that ultimately won each game was the one that bounced back from an early deficit.

With Friar defenseman Steven Shamanski in the box for interference about 13 minutes into the second period of Saturday night’s game, sophomore defenseman Ahti Oksanenadded on to his team-leading points total with his second goal of the season.

Much like he did with his other goal this season, Oksanen one-timed the puck right by Providence goalie Jon Gillies.

The play never would have happened, however, if it wasn’t for Roberto’s pass. The freshman wing hesitated with the puck along the wall, waiting for the Providence defense to shift, and giving him a wide opening to send the puck straight to Oksanen.

“He kind of faked a quick back-door play, and Ahti was wide open on the back door,” said BU coach David Quinn. “It was a great goal. I thought Nick had a good weekend overall.”

Netminder Sean Maguire hasn’t won a game since the Terriers season opener against the University of Massachusetts on Oct. 11. Maguire’s record, in fact, sits at 1-3 after four starts this season. Those results, however, do not reflect Maguire’s performance in goal.

The sophomore, who has not given up more than three goals in a game this season, holds a 2.03 goals against average and a .941 save percentage.

During Saturday’s loss to Providence, Maguire gave up just two goals – one of which came during a 5-on-3 Friar power play – and picked up 22 saves. It took Providence until the final two minutes of the second period to find the back of the net.

Quinn has said all season that he wants BU to have four or fewer penalties per game. He got that this weekend with the Terriers having just two in the game on Friday and four during Saturday’s contest.

The problem on Saturday, however, was the timing of the penalties.

With sophomore wing Sam Kurker already in the box for tripping with fewer than four minutes left in the second period, sophomore wing Mike Moran was called for cross checking.

Six seconds into the 5-on-3 situation, Providence scored to tie up the game and give the team momentum heading into the third period the game.

“We get up 1-0, and we take two stupid penalties,” Quinn said. “Against a team like that you can’t take penalties like that, and that’s the disappointing part.”

One of the reasons BU found so much success in the second and third period during Friday’s game was because the team took more Grade A chances.

Providence had 16 chances from in close during the game, including the game-tying and game-wining goal. Meanwhile, the Terriers had 10, and their lone goal of the game was scored on a slap shot from the top of the right circle.

Quinn said after the game that the Terriers also did not shoot the puck as much as they needed to during a power-play opportunity in the third period.

“The minute you pass the puck to someone, and you can turn and be in a one-time position, you got to do it,” Quinn said. “At least look like you’re going to be a threat. People may respect you, and they may overplay you, and all of a sudden someone else might be open.”