Cristina Romano
Jay Pandolfo was blunt postgame after the Boston University men’s hockey team won its fifth straight season opener.
“It certainly was not pretty,” the fourth-year head coach said.
Despite their poor play at even strength, puck management, and lack of discipline, the No. 2 Terriers defeated Long Island University 4-2 at Agganis Arena on Saturday night.
“We just played a very immature game,” Pandolfo continued.
From the opening faceoff, the Sharks (0-1) set the tone with their physical play, matching BU (1-0) stride for stride and looking to stretch the ice to get behind the Terriers’ defense. Ultimately, it was BU who got on the board first on the power play.
Just four seconds into the man-advantage, sophomore assistant captain Cole Eiserman blasted home a one-timer from the right circle at 5:51 of the first period. Fellow sophomore assistant captain Cole Hutson and senior forward Owen McLaughlin picked up assists on the tally.
After converting 28.1 percent of its power plays last season, BU went 2-for-5 with the man advantage to open the 2025–26 campaign. The top unit sees three new names trot out in McLaughlin, sophomore forward Sacha Boisvert, and freshman forward Ryder Ritchie.
“I thought it was good,” Hutson said of the power play postgame. “We could have won maybe a few more face-offs, but when we did possess the puck, I think those openings came for us. We’re making the right plays at the right time.”
Conversely, the Terriers killed all five penalties it took, an area that struggled mightily last season. Sophomore forward Brandon Svoboda, Boisvert, sophomore defenseman Sascha Boumedienne, and junior blueliner Aiden Celebrini served as the top unit.
“They did a good job,” Pandolfo said of the penalty kill. “They got the job done there, and when we did have breakdowns, Mike was there.”
Sophomore goaltender Mikhail Yegorov was BU’s best player in the season opener, stopping 36 of the 38 shots he faced. He’ll need to be a steady presence from game to game as the Terriers gel. If tonight was any indication, he’s up for the task.
The Sharks got on the board first in the second period when senior captain Casey McDonald backhanded home a rebound past Yegorov at the 2:30 mark.
Pandolfo said BU had too many turnovers in the neutral zone, calling the team’s puck management “atrocious.” Hutson was candid postgame, admitting he “played a big role in that.”
“Just forcing plays that weren’t there. We got to start sticking with the right play at the right time,” he said.
Boisvert put BU back in front with a power play goal, his first tally as a Terrier, at 16:28 of the middle frame. He jammed home a loose puck from Ritchie and McLaughlin.
Hutson extended the BU lead to 3-1 at 7:11 of the third period, weaving his way around a defender and releasing a quick wrister from the left circle to beat sophomore Daniel Duris, who stopped 28 of 32 shots.
The Sharks clogged the middle of the ice in their own zone, forcing the Terriers to generate offense elsewhere and blocking 18 shots over 60 minutes.
“We obviously want to get to the middle of the ice,” Eiserman said. “When they’re clogging it, you just got to will shots through, try to get shots on net, stick to your identity.”
LIU cut BU’s lead to 3–2 at 13:38 of the third period. After a turnover in the offensive zone, sophomore forward Sixten Jennersjö went glove side on Yegorov to finish a breakaway.
Eiserman gave the Terriers some insurance with his second goal of the night at 15:27 of the third period. Ritchie and freshman defenseman Charlie Trethewey picked up the assists.
BU will turn around in less than 24 hours to host RPI in an exhibition Sunday evening. Despite the nature of Sunday’s contest, Pandolfo knows the Terriers have to bring their all.
“We certainly want to make sure that we’re playing a certain way,” he said. “You can just flip a switch.”