WALTHAM, Mass. - Sophomore Lane Hutson scored 3:12 into overtime to lift the No. 1 Boston University men's ice hockey team to a 3-2 victory at Bentley on Saturday night at Bentley Arena.
BU won its third straight season opener in dramatic fashion, with Hutson sending the puck into the top left corner during a 4-on-3 power play. Freshman Macklin Celebrini and sophomore Ryan Greene provided the assists on Hutson's winner.
Celebrini's assist completed a two-point collegiate debut, as he scored a highlight-reel goal in the second stanza. Graduate captain Case McCarthy opened the scoring for BU in the first frame. Freshman Shane Lachance notched his first collegiate point with an assist on McCarthy's marker while sophomores Quinn Hutson and Jeremy Wilmer had the helpers on Celebrini's strike.
Junior goaltender Mathieu Caron was sharp in his Terrier debut, making 21 saves to earn the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- McCarthy rocketed a shot bar down for the opening goal just 11:37 into the proceedings. A Bentley clearing attempt only got as far as the Terrier captain, who one-timed the on-edge puck through traffic and past goaltender Connor Hadley (29 saves).
- Bentley nearly tied the game just seconds into the second stanza but Caron made a terrific blocker save.
- Celebrini extended the lead to 2-0 6:57 into the middle frame. Wilmer's breakout pass found Quinn Hutson, who then gained the blue line. Celebrini sped past his defender and created a 2-on-1 in the Bentley zone. Hutson found Celebrini between the circles with a nifty pass, with Celebrini catching the puck on his forehand and quickly moving it to his backhand before tucking it past Hadley.
- Kolby Amici brought Bentley within a goal at 16:49 of the second period and the Falcons nearly equalized on a breakaway moments later if not for a terrific save by Caron.
- A.J. Hodges capitalized on a Bentley power play just 6:25 into the third to even the score.
- Both teams had great chances to take the lead towards the end of regulation, with each goaltender making crucial stops to keep the game tied.
- Celebrini had an excellent bid to win it at the buzzer after a sensational individual effort, but his attempt went just wide.
- Lane Hutson's winner came directly off a faceoff at the start of a power play, with Greene winning the puck back to Hutson, who quickly played catch with Celebrini before uncorking a fantastic shot into the top left corner.
GAME NOTES
- Four of Lane Hutson's six career game-winning goals have come in overtime, with all four being scored away from Agganis Arena.
- BU went 1-for-3 on the power play while the Falcons were 1-of-2 on the man advantage.
- The Terriers went 33-22 at the faceoff dot, with Celebrini leading the team with a 12-6 record.
- In addition to Caron, Lachance and Macklin Celebrini, freshmen Aiden Celebrini, Mick Frechette, Doug Grimes and Gavin McCarthy all made their collegiate debuts.
- The Terriers' improved to 3-1-0 all-time against Bentley in their first-ever trip to Bentley Arena.
UP NEXT
- BU will open Hockey East play on Friday, Oct. 13, when the Terriers trek to New Hampshire.
- Puck drop on NESN and ESPN+ is scheduled for 8 p.m.
