Men’s Hockey: Travel Doesn’t Affect Terriers in Sweep over Black Bears

By: Jake Reiser

After No. 3 Boston University’s 4-1 win over the University of Maine last night, coach David Quinn was not happy that it took two periods for his team to wake up. Despite a victory and not wanting to be the grouch, he knew that the Terriers had more in them and needed to show it to win at Alfond Arena in Orono, Maine.

BU proved Quinn right, as they rode to a 3-1 victory Saturday evening. Jake Oettinger made 26 saves, and the Terriers went 1-6 on the power play on the night.

Unlike last night, BU got the scoring started in the first period. Shorthanded, Clayton Keller took away an exit pass in the offensive zone and deked past Maine starter Rob McGovern to give the Terriers the lead. It was Keller’s third shorthanded goal of the season.

At almost the juncture of the second period, this time on the power play, Patrick Harper took a cross-ice pass from Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson and ripped a one-timer to extend the lead to two goals. Unfortunately, Patrick Harper was injured in the second period and did not return for the third frame of play.

A power play goal by Maine’s Blaine Byron that looped in from a Dante Fabbro block cut the Terrier lead in half. Minutes later in the third, BU regained a two-goal lead as Clayton Keller’s shot was blocked by Mark Hamilton, but trickled right to Brandon Hickey, snapping it through to finish off the scoring in a Boston University win.

“I thought we did a better job of deciding when to jump in on the play. We’re always asking our D to get involved, they all skate pretty well, they’ve all got pretty good instincts,” said BU Head Coach David Quinn. “It’s funny, you give up some odd-man rushes, I was talking with [associate coach] Albie O’Connell in between the second and third, it seems like when we give up an odd-man rush, it’s off one of our scoring chances. We’re not going to stop asking our D to get involved, I want to play smart hockey, I don’t want to play safe hockey.”

With the win, Boston University now owns the longest active winning streak in college hockey at eight games thanks to a loss by Minnesota tonight. It is there longest since 2014-15 when they ripped off a similar stretch in the second semester.

There are a few point scoring streaks still intact as well. With an assist, Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson extends his point scoring streak to seven games, while Jordan Greenway extends his point scoring streak to eight games with an assist as as well. A goal and an assist from Clayton Keller extends his point scoring streak to ten games.

“The thing that doesn’t get enough attention in our game is luck,” said Coach Quinn. “The puck isn’t round, you can’t anticipate its bounces, and we’re getting bounces. When you win seven in a row or eight in a row, you’ve got to get bounces, and we’ve gotten bounces. Believe me, we don’t want to rely on luck, but we certainly have it. We got some bounces tonight, we got some last night.”

Boston University had a short week, as they travel to North Andover this upcoming Tuesday evening to take on the Merrimack College Warriors.