Case McCarthy skates with the puck. Photo by Brady Gardner.
BU fell to Dartmouth 5-4 at Thompson Arena on Saturday night. Here are the plays I picked out as the top five moments of the game.
5. Stevens breaks the ice for BU
BU started quickly with an opening goal just two minutes into the game. Jake Wise, moving to left wing for the first time this season, worked the puck behind the net and across the crease where Sam Stevens knocked it in. The early goal set the tone for BU, who added two more goals before Dartmouth could answer.
4. Skoog shows some flair with a tricky goal
Three days removed from netting an overtime game-winner in his debut with BU, Wilmer Skoog one-upped himself with a “Michigan goal”, lifting the puck on to the blade of his stick behind the net and flipping it into the cage lacrosse-style. The eye-popping finish restored the BU lead early in the second period.
3. Gallant gets the Big Green going
With Dartmouth trailing by three late in the first period, the Big Green showed some life with a power-play goal by Mark Gallant, deflecting in a shot by Tanner Palocsik. The hosts’ opening goal opened the floodgates, as they scored two more goals in quick succession to take a 3-3 tie into the first intermission.
2. Foreman finishes Dartmouth’s early comeback
The Big Green finished off a first-period comeback with two goals in 24 seconds, with the equalizing tally coming from Quin Foreman to draw Dartmouth level at the first break. Foreman’s goal chased Sam Tucker from the BU crease and Ashton Abel stepped in for his first official collegiate debut.
1. O’Connor puts Dartmouth on top
Dartmouth took their first lead of the game eight minutes into the second period when Drew O’Connor finished a quick move by the Big Green. Within a minute, O’Connor scored Dartmouth’s equalizing and go-ahead goals, which proved to be the difference in the 5-4 win.
Not acceptable. They seem to be playing down to the level of less talented opponents. The Eagles are going to give this team a clinic.
Maybe they can play up to the competition the way they often play down, but yes Mark, next week’s visit to BC has to look intimidating.
Right, mark. There is something missing from these terrier teams of the past few years. Parker’s teams would never play like this.But they are together anew group for sure and may get it together. Please don’t even talk about the pair wise. We have no chance. Beanpot only. As a p.s. what happened to the O we were going to get from Fensore ???
Yes SOCC, that loss was a killer in the PairWise. The Beanpot will be the best shot at a trophy, but there’s still time to make a run at Hockey East. The numbers don’t show it but Fensore has been active offensively, although his attacking aggressiveness has sometimes hurt him defensively.
Brady right on about Fensore he is the best skating defenseman in college hockey and I’m very pleased with his Defense. I’m disappointed with the loss I think we were the better team. For whatever reason I think-in my opinion youth this team almost goes into a defensive shell when things go wrong which leads to more things going wrong. Playing tentative afraid to make mistakes usually leads to bad things. it’s starting to get psychological and it’s incredibly frustrating as a fan but I saw so many things that were done right last night that I remain positive about our good team. I said at the beginning of the year I would give this team lots of patience and I will continue to do so even though last night hurt.
Best-skating defenseman in college hockey might be a little strong Colin, but that is his greatest strength. Coach O’Connell agrees with you that the problems are in the locker room and not on the ice – stringing together a few Hockey East wins (like we know they’re capable of) could be huge for this team.