Men’s Hockey: Terriers continue historically bad start after 5-0 loss to Providence

By: Denny Hackett

After raising the Hockey East Championship banner on Friday, Providence College quickly showed the Terriers that last season was far in the past.

For the second week in a row the Terriers failed to muster a single goal and for the fourth straight week they allowed four or more goals. The Terriers are still looking for their first win in the midst of one of the worst starts in program history with little signs of things turning around anytime soon.

BU fell behind early and could never quite find a rhythm, especially in the second and third periods.

“Overall, it was a lopsided second and third period, I thought in the first period we played a pretty good game,” said BU head coach Albie O’Connell said.

Providence scored their first goal just 58 seconds into the game but the Terriers played a disciplined first frame. BU managed to draw three power plays in the period and settled into some great possessions as a result but just could not find the back of the net. By the end of the period, the Terriers had outshot Providence 15 to 6 but were still looking for the tying goal.

Providence took over the game in the second period after outshooting the Terriers 26-9 and adding to goals to their lead. BU lost their discipline in the period and gave up two penalties, the second of which was a slash from Patrick Curry that led to Providence’s second goal of the period from Spenser Young with 30 seconds to go.

Things went from bad to worse in the third. In the first ten minutes of the period, the Terriers watched and a put up little resistance as Providence added two more goals to their lead, including the second goal of the game for Brandon Duhaime. Jack Dugan and Kasper Bjorkqvist rounded out the scoring for the Friars on Friday.

Right now, the Terriers cannot find any sort of rhythm on offense after two shutouts against Hockey East opponents. To score goals, you have to take shots. That is what O’Connell is preaching to his team.

“I think, as simple as it is, we have to shoot the puck more,” he admitted.

BU has a week to start working out some of the kinks on offense before they travel across Fenway on Friday, Nov. 2 to take on Northeastern University as part of a home and home series next weekend.