Men’s Hockey: No. 5 Terriers swept by No. 11 Michigan
Featured image by Joe Eachus
By Stevie Potter
For the first time this season, the Terriers were unable to respond.
Despite a better effort in their second matchup of the weekend, the Boston University Men’s Ice Hockey team (4-3-0, 1-0-0 HE) suffered a 5-4 overtime loss and were swept by the University of Michigan Wolverines (5-2-1).
“We certainly played better as a team,” coach Jay Pandolfo said. “[But] disappointed. Two nights in a row, one goal lead going into the third period, and [we] can’t find a way to close teams out.”
After defeating BU 5-1 on Friday night, the Michigan coaching staff opted to give the start to freshman goaltender Cameron Korpi, keeping with their tandem in goal so far this season.
Michigan struck first with just under 10 minutes remaining in the first. BU goaltender Matthieu Caron made the initial save on a shot by forward Nick Moldenhauer. Still, Moldenhauer’s linemate, Evan Werner, picked up the uncontrolled rebound and fired the puck past an out-of-position Caron.
The Terriers responded three minutes later.
Captain Shane LaChance and Forward Quinn Hutson peppered Korpi with three shots in just seven seconds to no avail. Tristan Amonte won the following face-off and immediately passed the puck back to LaChance, who rifled the puck through the slot, and this time, past Korpi.
With just six seconds remaining in period number one, Forward Matt Copponi scored his first goal as a Terrier to secure the lead for BU. Forward Cole Eiserman won a battle for possession before dropping the puck back for Copponi. Copponi toe-dragged around Michigan defender Jacob Truscott and backhanded the puck up and into the back of the net.
“When you transfer it can take a little bit of time to get comfortable,” Pandolfo said. “[Copponi] seems to be getting more and more comfortable and tonight he was excellent.”
Michigan came out in the second with fire and scored just 24 seconds into the second frame. Forward Jackson Hallum received the puck off a pass from forward TJ Hughes, who was behind Caron’s net, and lofted it into the net from just outside the blue paint to tie things back at two goals apiece.
Determined to stay at least one step ahead of the Wolverines, BU reclaimed its lead with a goal courtesy of forward Alex Zetterberg. Forward Jack Harvey won a battle along the boards before spotting Zetterberg, who was perfectly positioned just to the left of Korpi. Zetterberg moved the puck between his legs and roofed it into the Michigan goal.
BU kept its one-goal lead for the first half of the third period, but with just under ten minutes remaining in regulation, forward Kienan Draper took a wrist shot from the bottom of the left circle that beat Caron through traffic.
A minute and a half later, forward Devin Kaplan scored his second goal of the season for what would ultimately be the Terriers’ final time leading for the evening. Defender Tom Willander sent an across-the-crease pass to Kaplan, who was left uncovered by the Michigan defense and had a wide-open net to shoot at.
Despite BU’s otherwise clean gameplay, defenseman Gavin McCarthy recorded the Terriers’ only penalty of the night after a boarding call on Moldenhauer with 7:31 remaining. Michigan converted on the man advantage, with Hallum scoring his second goal. Hallum’s shot came from between the hash marks and rang off the post and in.
Regulation play ended with the score knotted at 4-4, and the game went to 3-on-3 overtime.
Copponi continued to play some of his best hockey as a Terrier and had a handful of grade-A opportunities throughout overtime.
That being said, ultimately it was his slap shot that missed Korpi’s net, allowing Michigan to head the other way with a 2-on-1 and score the game-winning goal. The final goal was scored by none other than Hallum, completing the hat trick
“3-on-3 you have to make sure you hit the net,” Pandolfo said. “If you do miss it, it’s likely they’ll be coming the other way and that’s what happened…disappointing, but something we can learn from as well. When you play 3-on-3 you’ve just got to make sure that you don’t miss the net.”
BU will go back to conference play next weekend with a home-and-home series against the UMass Lowell Riverhawks, with games streaming on ESPN+.