Despite a two-goal lead after the first period, the Northeastern men's hockey team had its eight-game unbeaten streak curbed at the hands of No. 6 Boston University on Friday night at Matthews Arena.
The Huskies scored two goals within a minute right before the conclusion of the first period to set the tempo, but the Terriers fought back and tallied four unanswered goals before the Huskies added a late extra attacker power play goal in the third.
Rookie Ludwig Karlsson registered his second-career two-goal game while junior Alex Tuckerman found the back of the net for the second time this season. BU's Wade Megan also potted a pair, including the game winner, while Evan Rodrigues and Adam Clendening also scored for the Terriers.
Northeastern outshot BU, 34-30, marking just the third time the Huskies took more shots than its opponent this season. The Terriers attacked on the power play twice in six tries while Karlsson put away his second-career power play goal in the third. NU had five extra-man opportunities on the evening.
Junior goaltender Chris Rawlings stopped 26 shots in the setback while winning backstopper Kieran Millan turned away 31 shots.
Northeastern came storming out of the gates first, testing Millan with a flurry of rubber including a couple hard wristers from rookie Adam Reid and sophomore Rob Dongara in the first few minutes. Boston University responded with a barrage of its own, but Rawlings kept his head on a swivel under heavy duress to keep the Terriers off the board.
The first power play of the game fell to the Huskies after Sean Escobedo was escorted off for roughing at 13:32 of the first period, but was quickly reduced to a 4-on-4 after junior Steve Quailer was whistle for interference at 14:02. Each team possessed in enemy territory, but could not convert with the extra ice.
The tempo sped back and forth before the Huskies drew first blood at 18:38 of the first period. Northeastern kicked the puck out to Quailer on the point from behind the net to generate the scoring play. Quailer ripped the pick on Millan, yielding a rebound to junior Drew Ellement. Ellement redirected the puck over to Tuckerman on the near post to craft a nifty backhand over Millan's blocker for the 1-0 lead.
It took only 55 seconds for the Huskies to double up BU before the first stanza expired thanks to a snipe from Karlsson at 19:33.
Northeastern gained a faceoff in Boston University's zone and NU capitalized on a Terriers' turnover. Chris Connolly tried to clear the puck out on his own right dot, but junior Garrett Vermeersch bothered the clear and Karlsson corralled the errant pass in between the circles. With no one around, Karlsson zipped a wrist shot top-right shelf to make it a 2-0 affair after 20 minutes.
The Terriers came out swinging to start the second period, but Rawlings made two big kick saves on Matt Nieto near the 4:00-minute mark. Boston University pressed on and final broke through with two goals under a minute near the midway point of the second period.
Justin Courtnall sent a missile from the point through traffic and Adam Clendening was in perfect position for the redirect goal at 8:23. Rawlings had difficulty picking up the tip and the puck beat him five-hole to cut the lead in half, 2-1.
At 9:20, the Terriers made the most of a turnover behind Rawlings to tie Northeastern, 2-2. Ryan Santana displayed the aggressive forecheck and jostled the disc loose out to the front of the net. Wade Megan sniffed out the puck and streaked through the zone and buried the one-time pass from Santana on the goalmouth.
The Terriers netted their third goal of the period on the power play after rookie Josh Manson took a contact to the head game misconduct penalty at 10:41. After 1:10 elapsed, Evan Rodrigues countered on another redirect goal from an Alexx Privitera at 11:51. Sahir Gill slid the puck over to Privitera atop the left zone where he slapped it towards Rawlings. Rodrigues poked his stick out in front and beat Rawlings with the tip for the 3-2 lead.
Sophomore Anthony Bitetto was assessed a slashing call at 14:54, creating a 5-on-3 situation to BU for 48 seconds. Great penalty killing from junior Robbie Vrolyk helped stop the bleeding, pushing the second period to a close with the Terriers holding the one-goal pad.
Right out of the chute to start the third frame, Quailer took a seat for hooking at 1:24 and BU pounced for its second power-play tally of the night at 1:52. The Terriers won the draw and gained the right corner behind Rawlings. Alex Chiasson made a precise pass from goal line extended out to Megan on the right dot. Megan quickly discharged the one-timer past Rawlings' glove to make it a 4-2 count.
Yasin Cisse and Privitera bestowed Northeastern with life after both took cross-checking calls at 9:29 of the third. The Huskies possessed the entire two minutes with a two-man advantage, but could not find the back of the net on the 5-on-3.
The march to the penalty box continued in the later portions of the third. Another Quailer slashing call subsided before Northeastern took advantage of its first power play of the game 16:59. Megan was charged with a hook at 15:31 and Karlsson buried his second of the night with another wicked wrister.
Saponari and Vermeersch triggered the scoring play by creating an open lane with cross-ice atop the zone. Vermeersch saw the lane and deferred to Karlsson for the quick release at the left circle to inch within one, 4-3. Rawlings was pulled from net, giving NU the extra skater, as well.
Northeastern continued its comeback bid, but Boston University stood its ground and closed out regulation with the 4-3 triumph.
Tonight's contest will be re-aired on the NHL Network at 10 a.m. (U.S. only) tomorrow as well as NESN tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Northeastern skates down Mass Ave. to Landsdowne St. and will take on No. 4 Boston College at Fenway Park tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. It marks Northeastern University's second-ever game at 4 Yawkey Way. The women's hockey team played New Hampshire at Fenway Park on Jan. 8, 2010 (L, 3-5).
A replay of this game is available on GoNUxstream. GoNUxstream is free to all viewers and features live and on-demand video and audio broadcasts, as well as live game stats, and is accessible on PC and Mac computers, as well as on iPhones, iPads and Android phones.
Game Notes
- Ludwig Karlsson accounted for his second-career two-goal performance as a rookie and is now tied with Braden Pimm in goals scored (8). Karlsson is second on the team in points (8-9-17) and is locked in a three-way tie for second place in points per game (1.00 ppg) in the entire country.
- Steve Quailer extended his point-streak to a career-best 10 games, accounting for 15 points (6-9-15) within the stretch. It is the longest career point streak of any Husky on the roster.
- Alex Tuckerman scored his second goal of the season and his first since netting one against Vermont on Nov. 19, 2011. He has scored 15 goals in his career at Northeastern.