Men’s Hockey: Q. Hutson OT heroics sends BU to the Frozen Four for the third straight year
Featured image by Holly Gustavsen
By Devora Slonim
The Hutson brothers have done it again.
After a back-and-forth season and some inconsistency scattered throughout, Quinn Hutson’s overtime heroics punched the Terriers a ticket to the Frozen Four for the third straight year.
Both Cole and Quinn Hutson tallied a goal and assist in BU’s victory, as the duo combined for a late goal in the third and the OT winner to send the team to St. Louis, Missouri, for a chance at the coveted national title.
“It was a hell of a game,” Coach Jay Pandolfo said post-game. “Our guys, we came ready to play tonight. Last game, we didn’t start the game on time. Tonight, we did, and we fought all the way through, and at the end of the day we found a way to win a hockey game and head back to the Frozen Four. So credit to our guys, they’re a special group.”
The ice was evenly tilted in the first, with the Terriers and Cornell Big Red having separate surges and strong offensive pushes.
What was originally an overturned call on the ice resulted in the Big Red getting on the board first. Ryan Walsh got to the crease, pushing his hip forward to bounce the puck awkwardly into the net behind Mikhail Yegorov.
Just under a minute later, Matt Copponi responded with an incredible individual effort, streaking in to even the score at one apiece.
Despite the overall evenly matched pace, Cornell surged as the clock trickled down in the opening frame, firing a parade of shots on an alert Yegorov.
The Terriers got a break in the form of a five-minute misconduct handed to Walsh for face-grabbing, but it was ultimately negated on a Devin Kaplan slashing call.
Although no goals were scored, the second period was marred with physicality and sustained pressure in the O-zone.
Jake Kraft, the 5-8 sophomore, took on battling Yegorov and co-captain Shane Lachance, who are both 6-5, in some extracurricular activities in front of the net to wrap up a heated period between the Scarlet and Big Red.
To start the third, Cole Hutson continued to do what he does best.
On the power play, C. Hutson picked the top right shelf, going over the shoulder of goaltender Ian Shane to take a 2-1 lead.
“The power play goal Cole scored was special,” Pandolfo said of Cole Hutsons’ game tonight. “When he wants to try and take a game over, he’s capable of it, and you saw that tonight. He was going to find a way to try and help us win a hockey game, and he was excellent.”
After equal play from both teams, Jack O’Leary capitalized on a missed BU clear, tying the game up with just over five minutes remaining in the final period.
As time expired, neither team was able to find the back of the net, forcing extra time.
The top line of Lachance, Ryan Greene and Quinn Hutson went to work once more, as seven minutes into overtime, Q. Hutson took a shot from the blue line that sailed into the net for the game-winner and ticket to St. Louis.
“We knew what we were capable of,” Q. Hutson said of the team. “It’s great that the team is pulling together at the right time, and we’re battling… We’re coming together at the right time.”
The Terriers will head to St. Louis, Missouri for another chance at the NCAA National Title, a feat they have not won since 2009.
“We have a special group of players,” Pandolfo said. “Guys that have a lot of talent. Our young guys have played in big moments coming into Boston University, so I think that’s helped them. It’s fun to coach these guys. It’s a challenge sometimes, but at the end of the day, these guys are great players, and they want to win and they want to do what’s right for the team. And you saw that tonight.”
The time of the game and opponent is TBA.