BOSTON, Mass. - Despite scoring three power-play goals, including a go-ahead tally with just under six minutes left in regulation, the No. 15 Boston University men's ice hockey team dropped a 5-4 contest to Harvard in the consolation game of the 59th Beanpot Tournament on Monday evening at TD Garden.
The Terriers fall to 14-9-7 overall and finish fourth in the tournament for the first time since 1980.
BU took a 4-3 lead on sophomore Alex Chiasson's second goal of the game at the 14:05 mark of the third, but the Crimson responded with two markers in under two minutes to earn the win and improve to 5-18-1.
After BU scored the lone goal of the opening period - a power-play tally 5:42 in by Chiasson - the Crimson exploded for three tallies in a span of 76 seconds in the early stages of the second to take a 3-1 lead.
The Terriers rebounded, however, with two strikes in 43 seconds from the sticks of freshman defensemen Garrett Noonan and Adam Clendening to make it a 3-3 affair entering the 2nd intermission.
Chiasson appeared to have come up with a game-winner when he redirected an offering from junior David Warsofsky past Harvard goaltender Ryan Carroll to make it 4-3.
The Crimson responded with a redirect of its own at 15:57 when Danny Biega tipped in a shot by Pier-Olivier Michaud to create the third deadlock of the contest.
The decisive goal came at 17:52 when Michael Del Mauro had a wide open net to work with above the left post following a rebound off a slapshot by Conor Morrison.
BU recorded a season-high 49 shots, including 20 in the third period alone, but Carroll made a season-high 45 saves to keep the Crimson in the contest long enough to pull off the late comeback. Junior Kieran Millan made 24 stops for BU.
Noonan added an assist for a two-point night, while senior Chris Connolly and freshman Matt Nieto each registered a pair of assists.
The Terriers scored on the man advantage in each period and finished the night 3-of-6 on the power play. The Crimson came up empty on its four power-play opportunities.
BU will return to action on Friday (Feb. 18) when it plays host to Providence in the opener of a home-and-home weekend. Game time at Agganis Arena is set for 7 p.m.