Trevor Zegras tumbles against UNH last weekend. Photo by Jenna VanSickle.
The Boston University men’s hockey team was 56 seconds away from tying its longest win streak of the season, but the University of Connecticut had other ideas.
The Terriers (12-11-8, 9-7-5 Hockey East) erased a two-goal deficit in the second period to go up 3-2 until the final minute of regulation, when senior forward Benjamin Freeman tucked in a rebound for the Huskies (14-13-4, 11-8-2 Hockey East) to send the game into overtime at the XL Center.
Freeman played provider 19 seconds into the additional frame, setting up senior forward Alexander Payusov off of a BU defensive-zone turnover to knock in a game-winning goal from just outside the crease.
BU head coach Albie O’Connell was happy with how his team played on the night, but couldn’t help but feel like his Terriers let two crucial Hockey East points slip away.
“It’s kind of like your legs got pulled out from under you,” O’Connell said. “You’ve got to play the full 60 [minutes].”
UConn had the early lead thanks to a pair of scores in the opening 20 minutes from sophomore forwards Carter Turnbull and Kale Howarth, converting two of UConn’s 15 first-period shots.
Freshman defenseman Case McCarthy got BU on the board 4:26 into the second period and sophomore forward Jack DeBoer tied it up off of freshman forward Robert Mastrosimone’s slick assist six minutes later.
Junior defenseman Cam Crotty fired the Terriers in front with 2:25 to play in the middle frame, and the assistant captain’s tally stood as the deciding goal through 19 minutes in the third before UConn turned the tables.
O’Connell was pleased with BU’s second-period effort and much of its third-period performance, but the hosts’ late push was enough to swing the result in their favor.
“I really liked the way we played,” O’Connell said. “Sometimes you end up on the wrong side of it. It’s an unfortunate outcome, but that’s hockey.”
Graduate goaltender Sam Tucker took the BU crease for his third consecutive start, making 26 saves and only facing 15 shots in the final 40 minutes of play. Sophomore netminder Tomas Vomacka made 23 stops for the Huskies.
Falling back in the Hockey East race with Boston College and the University of Maine both victorious on Friday night, BU will look to split the series with UConn on Saturday night at Agganis Arena. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.
Anyone ask coach about Tucker tonight? Juicy rebounds everywhere, poor positioning, one big save but otherwise a liability. Fortunate that UConn sent so many shots wide. Opened the door back up for Abel who should get a shot tomorrow. Just another poor loss by a team that had things in control but just can’t put together a long run of 60-min focused efforts. It’s a shame that 4 and 13 won’t be back next year as I think we’d be lined up to be the BC of this year.
Talent-wise, I agree. Next year….if those two players return (which is doubtful and probably already a foregone conclusion for #4) should theoretically be a strong year….Aren’t they getting a goalie from the USNTDP….ugh who cares…it’s irrelevant. I point to last year….major talent pool (2 current NHL’ers and a handful of others on the doorstep in the AHL)…but they had the exact same issue. LAZINESS. COMPLACENCY. I have no idea what goes on in that locker room but my theory is coach plays more the friend role than an authority figure who scares the shit out of them for not performing. Coaches who are too friendly end up being “just friends”. This team REEKS of a cushy comfort zone where they’re told they’re great and they have no choice but start believing they never have to earn anything. Albie and this entire team needs to read “Can’t Hurt Me” by David Goggins. Preferably before tomorrow night’s game. Goggins would have several choice and emasculating words for each of them. And they don’t include “entitled”…tho that would be true too.
So right about the coach. Good guy as I have said many times and great recruiter but way to soft on his players. Even with the snowflake generation of today you have to bear down on players to make them put out.
Horrendous and infuriating loss! I would say next year we are indeed lined up to be the BC of this season. If we can get Farrance and Zegras to stay another year (doubtful) and with Commesso (who is doing even better than Knight was in his USNTDP U-18 year) arriving in October, we would be the odds-on favorite to win a 6th title. And getting back to last night, if we had McCarthy playing the third, the game would never have gone to OT to begin with.
Btw, it’s worth nothing that on a night that BU let a game against another inferior opponent embarrassingly turn to liquid and slip through their fingers with seconds left, The Eagles rain danced to a 10-1 annihilation of Northeastern. A storm is coming to Agganis on 2/29. Bring your umbrellas.
You got that right mark. That should be an annhilation especially since we beat them in beanpot