The BU Terriers mens ice hockey team certainly enjoys making games interesting. The team began the weekend climbing out of a 2-0 deficit at the Mullins Center to salvage a 2-2 tie. This was due largely to the solid play of senior goalie Kieran Millan. Millan made 33 saves including many crucial ones in the 3rd period and OT. UMASS got out to an early lead with a PP goal by T.J. Syner and padded the lead with a goal by Connor Sheary midway through the second. BU would climb back within one with a goal by sophomore Matt Nieto who has a goal in every game thus far this year. The Terriers tied the game for good when Sahir Gil flipped the puck over UMASS goalie Kevin Boyle who has on his stomach in the crease. Overall, it wasn't a great effort Friday night and the team seemed happy to get a point behind Millan while Parker said there would be changes in the lineup for Saturday's matchup. He wasn't kidding.
Last night, they won an OT thriller 5-4 after trailing 3-0 at the end of the first period. The buzz before the game was over the benching of assistant captain Alex Chiasson who has been playing well offensively but not working hard enough defensively. Parker benched him to send a message and wake him up. We will see with time if it sends the message to him and the rest of the team. Back to the game, the team gave up some tough goals early as the first UMASS goal was a result of goalie Grant Rollheiser inability to cover up the puck. The second goal was a bad break as Ryan Ruikka attempted to clear the puck on the penalty kill and the puck took a weird bounce ended up right in front of the goal to be tucked in. The third UMASS goal was a result of a poor play by Charlie Coyle as he took the puck out in front of his own net and was pit pocketed by Sheary who roofed it past Rollie. The score remained that way until mid way through the second when BU seemed to wake up and UMASS fell apart. BU scored goals by Garrett Noonan on a great pass from Corey Trivino and then Sahir Gil scored as well to make it a one goal game entering the third.
In the third, BU took over the game. BU tied the game shorthanded on a goal from Charlie Coyle 9:51 into the third. BU then took the lead two minutes later on Corey Trivino's fourth of the year. UMASS would tie it at 4 on the PP after Charlie Coyle took his second penalty of the game for an unnecessary hit. The game would remain tied until OT when Matt Nieto would score his sixth goal in as many games and give the Terriers a huge 2 points to keep pace in HE. Who said Parker can't motivate? The Terriers return to action next Saturday at UMASS Lowell.
This weekend certainly was nowhere near as well as BU needs to play to go anywhere this season but it is a step in the right direction as they recovered from early deficits both nights. Both goaltenders played well and seem to give Parker a viable option to keep Millan on edge. I wouldn't expect to see Rollie again for a couple weekends unless Parker feels comfortable playing him against Merrimack or BC in two weeks and those teams seem like the two best teams in the league currently.
No comments:
Post a Comment