BOSTON - The Boston University men's ice hockey team completed a weekend sweep of Arizona State, earning a 5-2 victory on Saturday evening at Agganis Arena.
The Terriers, who got a 36-save effort from sophomore Drew Commesso, scored two goals in the late stages of both the first and second periods to build a 4-0 lead before adding a empty-netter in the closing moments to extend their unbeaten streak to six games (5-0-1) and improve to 9-9-3 on the season.
Sophomore Luke Tuch scored both second-period goals, including the eventual game-winner, while junior Jay O'Brien provided the final tally and added a pair of assists. Freshman Ty Gallagher opened the scoring and junior Matt Brown recorded a goal in the final second of the opening period.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Gallagher opened the scoring at 14:29 of the first with the teams skating 4-on-4.
- After a shot by sophomore Alex Vlasic was saved, O'Brien pounced on the rebound at the left post and backhanded a pass through the slot to Gallagher, who buried the open look for his fourth tally of the season and second of the weekend.
- The Terriers got an added boost heading into the first intermission when junior Robert Mastrosimone found Brown with a cross-ice pass to the left circle, where the junior found the back of the net with just 0.6 seconds on the clock.
- Arizona State looked to get back in the game in the second, putting 13 shots on goal, but Commesso stopped all of them and Tuch scored twice in the final three minutes of the stanza.
- In a quick end-to-end play, graduate student Max Kaufman took a pass from sophomore Cade Webber and directed a puck to Tuch right before drawing a tripping penalty. Tuch was all alone and beat ASU netminder Ben Kraws to the far post at the 17:24 mark.
- On the ensuing power play, Tuch executed a perfect tip-in above the crease off an offering by junior Domenick Fensore just 65 seconds after his first marker.
- Arizona State ended Commesso's shutout bid midway through the third on an even-strength tally by Tim Theocharidis.
- The visitors cut the deficit to two with 2:31 to play on a goal by Josh Doan.
- With Kraws pulled in favor of an extra attacker, O'Brien scored on the empty net from the left boards to seal the victory with 19 seconds remaining.
GAME NOTES
- Tuch now has four goals in the three games since the start of the second half.
- This marks BU's longest unbeaten streak since one that went eight games (7-0-1) at the end of the 2017-18 season.
- Both teams had 38 shots on goal as Kraws turned in a 33-save performance.
- BU scored on its lone power-play chance and kept the Sun Devils scoreless on all three of their chances with the man advantage.
- Fensore had a pair of assists and continues to hold the team lead in points with 17.
UP NEXT
- The Terriers will return to action on Friday (Jan. 14) when they visit Connecticut.
- Game time at the XL Center in Hartford is set for 7:05 p.m.
