TOLEDO, Ohio - Junior Quinn Hutson scored 6:25 into overtime to lift the No. 8 Boston University men's ice hockey team past No. 16 Cornell, 3-2, and secure the program's third straight trip to the Frozen Four on Saturday evening at the Huntington Center.
A right-point blast by Hutson found its way through traffic off assists by co-captains Ryan Greene and Shane Lachance to secure the Terriers' 25th all-time Frozen Four berth.
Freshman Mikahil Yegorov was outstanding in net, making 37 saves for the Terriers, who trailed for only 72 seconds during the opening period.
An early Cornell goal was quickly responded by a tally from senior Matt Copponi and freshman Cole Hutson, named the regional's most outstanding player, gave the Terriers a 2-1 lead on a power-play goal early in the third. Cornell sent the game to overtime on a tally with 5:30 left in regulation.
Both Hutson brothers had an assist for two-point nights while Greene also assisted on the go-ahead power-play tally. Sophomore Gavin McCarthy earned a helper on Copponi's goal.
BU improves to 23-13-2 on the season and will face the winner of the UConn/Penn State regional final in the national semifinals on Thursday, April 10, in St. Louis.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After both teams came up empty on early power-play opportunities, they went on to quickly swap goals soon after with each squad getting a fortuitous bounce.
- Cornell opened the scoring when a rebound popped up above the crease and hit the body of Ryan Walsh and in 7:35 into the game.
- The goal was initially waved off but the call was overturned after video review.
- The Terriers wasted little time in crafting an equalizer as Copponi maneuvered through the defense and put the puck on goal to create a rebound that went off a Cornell defender and in at 8:47.
- BU successfully killed off another penalty later the first and then drew a major on Cornell with exactly two minutes left in the opening frame.
- The Terriers could not capitalize, however, and even took their third penalty of the period during the major to create 4-on-4 play.
- The rest of the second period was a back-and-forth affair with both goaltenders coming up big to keep it a 1-1 contest.
- Cornell was whistled for holding as the second period expired to start the third on the man advantage.
- After cycling the puck around the top of the zone, C. Hutson curled through the left circle before lifting a perfectly placed shot over the right shoulder of Cornell netminder Ian Shane 34 seconds into the third.
- BU had a handful of chances to take a two-goal lead later in the period but Shane was up to the task each time.
- The Terriers' penalty kill had to make one more appearance midway through the third but it was successful for a third straight time.
- Cornell got the late equalizer it was looking for when Jack O'Leary jumped on a loose puck in the left circle and spun towards the slot before slipping a shot past Yegorov at the 14:30 mark.
- The Terriers withstood quick pressure from the Big Red as overtime started but Yegorov came up with his final four saves in the first 68 seconds of the extra session to set the stage for the winner.
- After a faceoff in the Cornell zone, the Terriers cycled the puck to the right boards where Greene sent the puck up the zone to Q. Hutson for a one-timer and the game's final shot.
GAME NOTES
- C. Hutson was joined by Yegorov, Eiserman and sophomore Jack Hughes on the all-regional team.
- Pandolfo is now a combined 10-0 in NCAA regional games as a head coach and player, resulting in seven trips to the Frozen Four.
- BU held a 41-37 advantage in shots.
- The Terriers were 1-for-3 on the power play and successfully killed off all of the Big Red's chances with the man advantage.
- This marks the first time since 1995-97 that the Terriers have made three straight Frozen Fours.
UP NEXT
- BU will return to action in the Frozen Four semifinals on Thursday, April 10, in St. Louis.
- The Terriers' opponent with be the winner of the NCAA Allentown Regional final on Sunday (March 30) when UConn faces Penn State.
