BOSTON - Freshman Cole Hutson notched the game-winning goal and assisted on an empty-netter as the No. 9/8 Boston University men's ice hockey team defeated Northeastern, 3-1, on Saturday night at Matthews Arena.
BU (18-12-1, 12-8-1 HE) held a 1-0 lead after two periods thanks to senior Tristan Amonte's fourth goal of the year, but Northeastern (11-16-3, 6-11-3 HE) tied the game early in the third. Hutson responded minutes later with his ninth goal of the season and then had the primary helper on sophomore Shane Lachance's empty-net strike with 1:36 remaining in regulation. Seniors Jack Hughes and Matt Copponi assisted on Amonte's strike while junior Quinn Hutson, sophomore Tom Willander and freshman Kamil Bednarik all had one assist apiece.
Freshman goaltender Mikhail Yegorov was outstanding on Saturday, making several grade-A stops as part of a 28-save performance.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Yegorov and the Terrier penalty killers overcame an early penalty to keep the game scoreless.
- BU got on the board first with 7:30 to play in the opening frame. Taking advantage of a turnover in the NU zone, Copponi got it to Hughes who then found Amonte at the right post for the finish.
- Neither team scored in the second stanza, with Copponi having the best chance for BU late in the frame when Cameron Whitehead turned aside the senior's wraparound attempt.
- Northeastern hemmed the Terriers in their own zone for nearly two minutes at the end of the period but BU eventually cleared the puck and got to the buzzer with its one-goal lead intact.
- Yegorov twice denied Jack Williams on point-blank bids in the first minute of the third period.
- Northeastern got on the board just 5:53 into the third period to even the score at 1-1
- C. Hutson responded with 11:56 remaining in the third when his shot from the left point got through a sea of bodies and past Whitehead.
- Yegorov made four huge stops on a Northeastern power play midway through the third to keep the Terriers ahead.
- Lachance then iced the game with Whitehead pulled in favor of an extra attacker during a BU power play. Willander broke up a play and C. Hutson got the puck in the left corner. He zipped an outlet pass to Lachance in the neutral zone and Lachance dangled around a defender before slotting the puck into the vacant cage.
GAME NOTES
- Yegorov has allowed two goals or fewer in seven of his nine starts this season.
- Quinn Hutson pushed his point streak to four games while Cole extended his point streak to three games.
- Copponi has recorded an assist in two of his last three games.
- The Terriers were 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and 1-for-3 on the power play.
- Shots on goal were even at 29-29.
UP NEXT
- BU will have a short turnaround as the Terriers travel to No. 11/10 UConn on Tuesday (Feb. 25).
- Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
