BU Drops Third Straight In Orono

Black Bears capitalize on early 5-on-3, Alex Chiasson nets team-leading fourth goal in loss
By Chris Aliano

The Boston University men's ice hockey team dropped its third straight contest Sunday afternoon, falling 3-2 at the University of Maine.

As has been the case all season, the Terriers (2-5-0, 1-4-0 HEA) had plenty of opportunities to get on the board, but were unable to capitalize.  The Black Bears (3-5-0, 2-2 HEA), on the other hand, took advantage of two early penalties by the Terriers, scoring on a 5-on-3 power play and tapping in another moments after the second penalty expired.


Maine junior defenseman Jeff Dimmen received a pass from sophomore forward Brian Flynn and put a puck past sophomore netminder Kieran Millan (15 saves) at 8:06, while sophomore forward Gustav Nyquist picked the pockets of sophomore defenseman David Warsofsky and wrapped it around the net to put Maine up 2-0. 

“One of our goals before the game was not to beat ourselves, and I thought we beat ourselves pretty good tonight with some of the stupid penalties we took,” BU head coach Jack Parker said.


 When Kevin Swallow was sent to the box for hooking, BU converted on its second power play chance of the game.  In doing so, the Terriers lit the lamp for the first time since the second period of last Saturday's 3-2 loss to UMass-Lowell when freshman forward Alex Chiasson picked up his team-leading fourth goal of the season after burying a pass from sophomore Corey Trivino at the doorstep.

“Those two penalties put us down two goals,” Parker said. “Now, you’re trying to come back on the road being down two goals [nine] minutes into the game.”

Chiasson appeared to have tied the game in the second period with what would have been his fifth goal on the year, but the score was waved off.  Chiasson appeared to have deflected in a slapshot from the stick of senior defenseman Eric Gryba, but the play was reviewed and the goal was nullified after it was determined that Chiasson's skate was in the crease and interfered with Maine's sophomore goaltender Scott Darling (26 saves).

The Black Bears thrived on the momentum swing, making the score 3-1 minutes after the review.  Nyquist fed a pass to sophomore forward Spencer Abbott on a 2-on-1 rush, and Abbott buried the easy game-winning goal at 9:31.

“Nyquist comes down the wall and squeezes by one of our defensemen, but he’s off the angle,” Parker said. “From where he has the puck, he couldn’t have put the puck past my goaltender once in 100 times. But my defenseman went over to play him and left the other guy wide open –– the opposite way of how you’re supposed to play a 2-on-1.”

Despite outshooting the Black Bears 28-18, the Terriers again had trouble finishing in front of the net and appeared to force their offensive chances time and time again.  Although Chris Connolly buried a nifty cross-ice pass from junior defenseman Colby Cohen past Darling at 13:01 in the third, the Terriers did not muster much after that score made it 3-2. 

The Terriers next visit Merrimack Friday night in Andover.  Both teams will return to Agganis Arena the next night to conclude the home-and-home series.  Both game times are scheduled for 7 p.m.

Notes and Notables
The loss put an end to the Terriers' 12-game unbeaten streak in the regular season against Maine, during which they went 10-0-2 against the Black Bears