NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - Freshman Shane Lachance scored two goals and sophomore Lane Hutson recorded three assists to help lead the No. 4/5 Boston University men's ice hockey team to a 4-1 victory over Merrimack on Friday night at Lawler Arena.
In a rematch of the 2023 Hockey East title tilt, BU (10-4-1, 6-1-1 HE) won its fifth straight league game on Friday, never trailing a Merrimack (6-7-1, 2-5-1 HE) squad that was whistled for three five-minute majors and two game misconducts. The Terriers made the most of their opportunities, going 3-for-6 on the power play.
Freshmen Doug Grimes and Macklin Celebrini joined Lachance in lighting the lamp while sophomore Ryan Greene dished out two assists. Graduate student Sam Stevens and sophomore Quinn Hutson also added one assist apiece. Junior goaltender Mathieu Caron was sharp throughout the contest and finished with 22 saves.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Grimes opened the scoring just 9:52 into the proceedings when he redirected a Stevens shot past Hugo Ollas.
- After the Warriors were assessed their first of three five-minute majors, BU needed just 17 seconds to take advantage. Pretty passing down low between Greene and Quinn Hutson led to Lachance receiving the puck at the top of the crease and burying the chance at 1:36 of the second stanza.
- Lachance's second strike of the game at 12:50 of the middle frame was a fantastic redirection of Lane Hutson's shot from the top of the zone.
- With 25 seconds to play in the second, BU successfully challenged a play for a 5:00 major against Merrimack. While the officials were reviewing the play, someone pulled the fire alarm, forcing both teams to leave the ice and fans to exit the building. Fresh ice was made, a figure skating performance commenced, and then the teams returned to play the final 1:49 of the frame, as that's when the penalty occurred. After a 2:00 break, the third period then began.
- Merrimack got a goal back at 4:52 of the third to cut the Terrier lead to 3-1.
- BU killed back-to-back penalties midway through the third to maintain its two-goal edge.
- On the Warriors' third and final major of the night, Celebrini scored his 10th goal of the season with 3:27 remaining in regulation.
GAME NOTES
- Friday was Lane Hutson's third three-point game of the season; he now has a hat trick and a three-assist game to his credit this year.
- He is the top-scoring defenseman in Hockey East with 19 points (8g, 19a).
- Celebrini became the first Terrier to reach 10 goals this season.
- He currently leads Hockey East with 23 points.
- This was Lachance's second two-goal game of the season; he scored his first two collegiate goals in an 8-1 win at Notre Dame on Oct. 21.
- Grimes has opened the scoring in each of the Terriers' last two games.
- BU is 7-for-14 (.500) on the power play in its last three league contests.
UP NEXT
- BU will close the first semester when the Terriers host Merrimack on Saturday night at Agganis Arena.
- Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m.
