BOSTON — “I believe in this group,” BU head coach Jay Pandolfo said following his team’s loss in the Beanpot final. “When we don’t do something well, they’re always looking to respond.”
The Terriers have faced numerous bouts of adversity this season, but the team has always shown its ability to bounce back.
After a disappointing shootout finish in the first half of the home-and-home matchup on Friday, the No. 3 Boston University men’s hockey team (20-8-2, 14-4-2 Hockey East) skated to a 5-2 victory over the No. 10 Providence College Friars (16-10-3, 9-7-3 HE) in Saturday’s rematch at Agganis Arena.
“Last night we were playing their game instead of our game,” Pandolfo said. “Tonight, I thought we played our game right from the start.”
After a slower start on Friday night, the Terriers were looking to come out strong in front of their home crowd. However, the Friars’ lethal forecheck and sound defense led to the away team opening the scoring.
Graduate forward Jamie Engelbert stripped the rubber from freshman defender Aiden Celebrini at the blue line and worked his way toward the net. With the loose puck bouncing off bodies and sticks, Engelbert eventually cashed in on an out-of-position Mathieu Caron just 2:35 into the first period.
Still looking for a response, BU finally found its rhythm midway through the frame. The Friars scored on their second shot on net, but the Terriers answered back with the next nine-straight shots — a big improvement from BU’s 18-7 shot deficit in the first-period on Friday.
“I thought we came out with energy,” Pandolfo said. “I thought we were doing all of the things that make us successful as a team.”
Funneling pucks toward sophomore netminder Philip Svedeback, getting behind Providence’s defense and outmuscling the Friars on puck battles, BU was rewarded with a tie 1-1 game.
In similar fashion to the night before, Nick Zabaneh used his speed to create a breakaway chance and lift the puck past Svedeback at 13:00. The senior forward was snake bitten offensively over the first half of the season but now has racked up four goals in his last six games.
“That’s kind of my identity, using my speed to create chaos for the other team’s D on the forecheck,” Zabaneh said postgame. “I take pride in that, and that’s a big part of my game.”
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Pandolfo was not happy with his team’s execution on its single power play on Friday night, but the lone Terrier man advantage showed improvements on Saturday and converted in the final seconds.
Freshman defender Tom Willander unleashed a long blast from the point to erase his team’s three-game drought on the power play with 1:42 remaining in the first.
“Tuch had a great screen, and we talked about getting pucks through, and that’s what happened on that one,” Pandolfo said.
Although it took nearly seven minutes to record its first shot on target, BU led in first-period shots 16-5 by the end of the first 20 minutes.
The Terriers held their breath in the second period, playing a majority of the frame shorthanded. BU struggled to sustain much offense after taking three minor penalties, but the Terrier penalty kill went three-for-three.
The shots-on-goal total flipped in the second period, with the Friars taking the 15-6 advantage.
Fortunately for the home team, BU regained some momentum after an incredible individual effort by sophomore defenseman Lane Hutson. Using his body to corral the puck toward the net, the Hobey Baker nominee tapped the puck home with 4:34 remaining to make it a 3-1 game.
BU went back to the kill to start the third period, but soon after successfully fending off its fourth-straight minor penalty, the Terriers padded their lead.
Rushing down the ice to retrieve junior defenseman Ty Gallagher’s dump in, freshman forward Macklin Celebrini no-look backhanded the puck to a crashing Shane Lachance. At 2:51 of the third, the freshman forward — who was elevated to the first line on Saturday — buried the puck for his tenth goal of the season.
“That pass that Macklin made to me was unbelievable,” Lachance said postgame. “It’s just a lot of talking with new linemates, just gotta communicate, and I think we did a pretty good job tonight.”
The Friars potted their second and final goal of the night after some miscommunication from BU in its offensive zone. With no Terrier skater ready to receive Lane Hutson’s drop pass, Providence capitalized on the loose puck and scored on the breakaway to make it a 4-2 game.
To finish off the night, Lachance added his second goal of the game to make it a 5-2 contest. Caron finished the game with 32 saves for a 67-save weekend.
“They’re a difficult team to play because, like I said, they throw everything to the net,” Pandolfo said. “[Caron] was really good at fighting through the traffic and finding the puck.”
The Terriers will have to face off against the Friars for a third time in the final week of regular-season play, but up next, BU heads into its final weekend series.
“We got four games left now, so it’s time to set the standard,” Lachance said. “I think we had a great response tonight and everyone bought in…that’s what we’re going to need going forward.”
BU will face off against the UConn Huskies for a home-and-home series next weekend. The Boston Hockey Blog will have full, on-the-ground coverage so be sure to follow along on Twitter (X) @BOShockeyblog and Instagram @boston.hockey.blog.
Great all-around game. One of the better efforts in a long time.
Good lineup shuffle. I think LaChance plays with an edge, which was sorely needed on that top line. Anyone else worried about only having one tested goalie?
Caron runs hot and cold, he was on tonite and really saved their bacon in the second period when again the Terriers were taking a lot of foolish penalties. there are different ways to score goals and BU scored in several different ways tonite, Zabenah finally capitalizing on a breakaway for a sniper’s goal. Long shot by Willander through a screen created in from of goalie and some in close and rebounds including from Hudson and LaChance. Not a bad weekend vs a difficult team to play against and a nationally ranked team,\. I noticed N.Dakota was smoked by CC so there isn’t much difference among the top 5 nationally as they are all having their ups and downs. Four more games and home ice awaits the Terriers for a good bet to be on Causeway Street for the HE semifinals and another opportunity at hardware.
I think the effort has been there throughout this past skid but results not so much. couple our talent with getting pucks to net grinding get rebounds all of which we did last night this team is dangerous and I still think we can do it better. Good job terriers. Loved seeing #4 get meaningful ice time he was a force out there