By Meredith Perri/DFP Staff
ORONO, Maine – The University of Maine men’s hockey team defeated Boston University Friday evening at Alfond Arena after the Black Bears scored a touchdown and picked up the extra point halfway through the third.
In a game where the Terriers gave up seven goals for the first time since February and were shut out for the first time this season, there, obviously, were more negatives than positives. According to BU coach David Quinn, however, the Terriers made improvements in some areas after their 5-1 loss to Boston College last weekend.
“I thought we played hard,” Quinn said. “I feel a lot better with our effort and our physical play and our intent than I did against BC.”
Pluses
The majority of the first period
Sure, once sophomore wing Matt Lane and senior captain Patrick MacGregor landed in the penalty box at the end of the period, the Terriers put themselves into a hole. Before that, though, with the exception of a goal that sophomore netminder Sean Maguire would surely want back, BU showed some improvements.
Most noticeably, the Terriers had more of a shooting mentality than they had in the past few games. BU not only had 12 shots on goal to Maine’s 13, but also had more shots in close – something the team has struggled to do recently.
“I thought we were a little more physical,” Quinn said. “I thought we got pucks to the net more.”
Minuses
Sean Maguire
Maguire hasn’t won a game since the Terriers’ home opener against the University of Massachusetts on Oct. 11. Since then, BU has failed to score more than a goal in any game he has started while Maguire held onto a 2.03 goals-against average.
Friday evening’s game at Maine was different, however, as Maguire gave two soft goals in the first half of the game before Quinn replaced him with sophomore Matt O’Connor.
For more on BU’s struggles in goal, read Tim’s article here.
5-on-3s – for and against
Also known as the trouble with taking penalties in bunches.
BU could have gotten out of the first period with just a one-goal deficit. With Lane and MacGregor in box, however, BU was at a significant disadvantage. This became even more evident when wing Connor Leen scored with just six seconds left to give the Black Bears even more momentum heading into the second.
After the Terriers killed the remainder of the penalty in the second, it looked as though the team may have turned it around. With a 5-on-3 opportunity of its own, however, BU had just two shots on goal. Meanwhile, Maine went up 3-0 despite being down two men.
Sophomore defenseman Ahti Oksanen lost control of the puck in the offensive zone, and Maine defenseman Ben Hutton capitalized, demoralizing a Terrier squad that looked as though it might just fight its way back into the game.
“We don’t even get a sniff [on the 5-on-3],” Quinn said. “You’re throwing passes into skates, you’re not alert, you’re shooting when you should pass, you’re passing when you should shoot. You’re going to struggle on a 5-on-3. That’s what happened and not only did we not score, but they get a goal and it just changes the whole complexion of the game.
“You could feel it on the bench.”
Lack of offense
The Terriers have scored seven goals in their past six games. That’s right – the same amount that the Black Bears scored Friday evening.
In that same span of time, BU is 1-5 with its only win coming against Providence College.
Quinn has said throughout the past few weeks that much of the team’s offensive woes have to do with a lack of shooting mentality. Although the team did finish the night with the same amount of shots on goal as Maine with 34, they still aren’t getting great opportunities. According to Quinn, the team has made strides with its puck possession, but clearly still has work to do.
“I don’t want to lose 7-0 in any way, shape or form at anything,” Quinn said. “Losing is tough to swallow, but you have got to look big picture here, and sometimes you have just got to continue to move forward and think big picture and try to get better every day.”