Junior forward Wilmer Skoog tallied two goals for the Terriers
Skoog Scores Twice to Lead Boston University Past Providence, 5-2
Junior forward Wilmer Skoog tallied two goals for the Terriers

Box Score

BOSTON, Mass. - Junior Wilmer Skoog scored two goals, including the eventual game-winner, to help lead the Boston University men's ice hockey team to a 5-2 win over Providence on Sunday afternoon at Agganis Arena.

BU (13-10-3, 9-6-3 HE) never trailed Providence (17-10-2, 8-8-1 HE) thanks to first-period goals by Skoog and classmate Ethan Phillips. Skoog and junior Domenick Fensore scored in a span of 1:09 to push the Terriers' lead to 4-1 at 6:51 of the third period before junior Jay O'Brien added an empty-netter to seal the victory and complete a two-point afternoon. Freshman Tristan Amonte added an assist, providing the primary helper on Skoog's first goal.

Sophomore goaltender Drew Commesso was terrific in his final game for the Terriers before he joins the U.S. Olympic Team. Commesso made 36 stops, including 27 over the final 40 minutes, to preserve the victory.

BU improved to 9-1-1 in its last 11 games with the victory and has secured at least one point in its last 12 Hockey East games.


HOW IT HAPPENED

- Skoog opened the scoring just 1:29 into the proceedings. Amonte began the sequence in the BU end with a great defensive play along the right half-wall to get the puck out of the zone. Skoog picked it up at the blue line and raced in to the Providence zone on a 2-on-1 with junior Robert Mastrosimone. Skoog subtly faked a pass to Mastrosimone before wristing the puck past Jaxson Stauber (20 saves).

- Phillips pushed the lead to 2-0 when he intercepted an outlet pass in the slot and quickly fired a shot past Stauber.

- The Friars got a goal back at 14:24 of the second period to cut the deficit to one entering the final 20 minutes.

- Skoog scored a sensational goal to regain the Terriers' two-goal edge. In a play that almost exactly mirrored Sam Stevens' shorthanded goal against Sacred Heart on Oct. 16, Skoog won the faceoff directly into the back of the net.

- Junior forward Wilmer Skoog scored two goals and junior forward Jay O'Brien posted a goal and an assist to help Boston University skate to a 5-2 win against Providence at Agganis Arena on Sunday.

- Fensore quickly added to the lead with a power-play goal just 1:09 later. This goal also came off a faceoff win, as O'Brien won the puck back to Fensore at the top of the right circle and the Hobey Baker nominee unleashed a shot past Stauber.

- Providence scored a power-play goal of its own at 9:44 of the third, but strong play from Commesso helped keep the Friars from getting within one.

- O'Brien iced the win when he forced a turnover at his own blue line and raced in on the vacant cage to deposit his sixth goal of the season.


GAME NOTES

- Skoog matched his career high in goals that he set on Oct. 22 at Merrimack.

- Phillips has scored four goals in the last three games.

- Commesso enters the Olympics having gone 8-1-1 in his last 10 starts with a .945 save percentage.

- BU averaged 4.28 goals per game in January en route to a 6-1-0 record.

- Since returning to the Terrier lineup on Dec. 31, O'Brien has scored four goals and added seven assists for 11 points.


UP NEXT

- BU will welcome Maine to Agganis Arena on Friday, Feb. 4, at 7:30 p.m.