BOSTON – The Boston University men’s ice hockey team had its three-game win streak snapped on Saturday evening in a 4-0 loss to visiting Massachusetts at Agganis Arena.
The Minutemen scored three power-play goals, including two off a second-period major, en route to the victory.
After UMass opened the scoring less than five minutes into the game, the Terriers successfully killed off a 5-minute major later on in the first but were unable to build off the momentum from it and then came up empty on a pair of second-period power plays.
A total of five goals were waved off due to goaltender interference including three from UMass. Both of BU’s were overturned after video replay.
BU, which moves to 8-6-1 overall and 4-3-1 in Hockey East play, got a 33-save performance from senior Mathieu Caron. In addition, the Terriers recorded a season-high 23 blocked shots. Sophomore Gavin McCarthy and graduate student Brehdan Engum led the way with six blocks each while sophomore Aiden Celebrini tacked on four more.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Freshman Kamil Bednarik nearly opened the scoring at 1:35 of the first period on a nifty setup by classmate Cole Eiserman, but UMass lit the lamp first at 4:25.
- First-year defenseman Cole Hutson almost tied the contest at 8:49, but the equalizer was successfully challenged for goaltender interference on Michael Hrabal (32 saves).
- Fourteen of Caron’s 33 saves came in the first frame, including six on a successful five-minute Terrier penalty kill.
- BU recorded four blocks on the kill, as well, to keep the deficit at 1-0.
- The Terriers outshot the Minutemen, 8-0, through the first 5:06 of the middle period.
- Senior Matt Copponi nearly evened the game on an incredible individual effort and backhand shot at 16:02, but the Minutemen scored a pair of power-play goals on their second 5-minute power play of the night to take a 3-1 lead into the second intermission.
- UMass padded its lead midway through the final period, scoring a power-play tally at 9:20.
- Freshman Sascha Boumedienne came close to recording his first career goal at 14:13, after a lengthy offensive zone possession with good puck movement, but the goal was overturned for goaltender interference.
GAME NOTES
- This is the Terriers’ first loss to the Minutemen at home since Feb. 1, 2019.
- The Terriers held the edge at the faceoff dot, winning 34 of 67 draws.
- Saturday’s loss snapped a three-game win streak.
UP NEXT
- BU and UMass will conclude their home-and-home series on Wednesday, Dec. 11, in Amherst.
- Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m., with the game to be televised live on NESN.
