This game was prefaced in the most interesting manner by its preceding matchup in the two-game series. In the previous fixture of the home-and-home at the Agganis Arena on Comm Ave, the Terriers blew a 2-0 lead and allowed the River Hawks to go up 3-2. The game was tied back up and the energy reached an all-time high in this Hockey East pairing when BU’s Sacha Boisvert (Chicago, 18th overall, 2024 NHL Entry Draft) and UML’s Connor Eddy engaged in a rare NCAA hockey fight. As per the existing rules (perhaps there may come a time when this shifts given the conversation around it, including contributions from UML head coach Norm Bazin), both were automatically disqualified from the game. For the moment, though, the Hockey East Association announced today that both Boisvert and Eddy were suspended for two games and re-emphasized a zero tolerance policy. Disregarding that, however, in overtime, things remained interesting, as a would-be power play for UML off of a hooking penalty by BU D Cole Hutson (Washington, 43rd overall, 2024) was negated by an interference call on UML captain Jay Ahearn quite quickly. Nevertheless, UML D Nate Misskey (San Jose, 143rd overall, 2024) completed a dramatic road win with a wrap-around goal on the 4v4. This positioned UML with a chance to close out a sweep against a nationally ranked opponent at home in Mill City at the Tsongas Center, though the chips were stacked against them as there have been very few sweeps in the conference this year at large and UML, with a record under .500, were no exception. On top of that, home has not been where the victory is for UML this season, as they entered the game with a 2-6-0 record at the Tsongas.

The first period was marked by physical play and poor discipline by both teams. The game was also low-event, as they were both somewhat turnover prone and generally unable to open things up (even off of said turnovers). As observed by BU’s game report, the two teams had nearly as many PIMs (8) as shots on goal (9) each. Truthfully, there were even more infractions that could have been called but were not by both sides. This could have additionally been made worse when Hutson was called for head contact, but Bazin ultimately burned the River Hawks’ timeout by challenging for a major but failing upon review. The tone was clearly established the night before by an eventful and emotion-filled game. The UMass Lowell student section, known as The Cage, was very aware of that, with the Blue Crew notably bearing a sign reading “CONNOR EDDY FIGHT CLUB ESTABLISHED 2026.” Neither UML G Austin Elliott nor BU G Mikhail Yegorov (New Jersey, 49th overall, 2024) had to make many high pressure saves in the first period save for perhaps the former stopping one notable stopping a one-timer opportunity set up by BU RW Ryder Ritchie (Minnesota, 45th overall, 2024). Another noteworthy event had BU C Kamil Bednarik (New York Islanders, 61st overall, 2024) doubled over after blocking a shot, but he was able to stay in the game.

In something of a break from the trend throughout most of the game, UML had some decent pressure on Yegorov in the second period’s early phases, forcing him to make a couple of tough saves in succession. A subsequent sequence had BU being the better attacking team, which had Elliott exhibiting his Memorial Cup-winning poise by making two very good saves in close, including one on LW Cole Eiserman (New York Islanders, 20th overall, 2024). Eiserman also missed a breakaway attempt wide and UML D T.J. Schweighardt made a difficult shot block with his skate blade. There was additionally some drama in a manner akin to Bednarik’s troubles with potential injury, as C Brandon Svoboda (San Jose, 71st overall, 2023) found himself in more or less the same situation not once, but twice, but ultimately stayed in. Eventually, BU would break through first. Under seemingly contested circumstances, BU were awarded an offensive zone draw with just under six seconds left in the second period. RW Owen McLaughlin (Philadelphia, 206th overall, 2021) won the draw when forced to take it, captain/D Gavin McCarthy (Buffalo, 86th overall, 2023) got it across to Hutson who ripped one from up top past Elliott to make it a 1-0 game with less than two seconds remaining.

Hutson made it a multi-point game when his pass across the crease landed on the stick of LW Nick Roukounakis, who did not miss his chance. Bazin would pull Elliott for the extra attacker with around three minutes remaining, but BU RW Ben Merrill (Montreal, 166th overall, 2024) buried the empty-netter with 2:15 remaining. Elliott would be pulled again immediately thereafter, but as was the case for most of the night, UML was not able to create a truly lethal offensive chance and dropped the game 3-0. Per BU Hockey Stats on X, this marked the first time since January 21st, 2000 that BU have won at the Tsongas in a January game (incidentally, a 5-0 shutout). This game also made Yegorov the first goaltender in Terriers history to shutout UMass Lowell and UMass Amherst in the same season. It really does not mean much that UMass Lowell were able to narrowly out-shoot Boston University 23-20 in this game. Bazin and I share the same assessment of his team’s performance in this one: It represents an issue they have in opening their game in the offensive zone and getting pucks through. The issue lies not in structure, but in the execution aspects of playmaking and chance creation. A split is a good outcome for the River Hawks, but they will likely be looking to sweep the #16 ranked Maine Black Bears in the two-game home series this weekend (Friday the 23rd/Saturday the 24th) to hopefully set a good course for the rest of the spring semester/final stretch of the regular season. BU, meanwhile, will face the #14 ranked Providence College Friars on those same dates, and look to build upon this most recent win with some meaningful success against a tough intraconference opponent.