The No. 9 Boston University men’s hockey group seemed for a bounce-back day trip Sunday night time in the second one of 2 matchups in opposition to the No. 5 University of Michigan Wolverines. Following a 9-2 blowout on Friday, the Terriers (2-1-0) answered with a powerful 3-2 victory over the Wolverines (3-1-0) at the highway Sunday night time.
After surrendering six objectives on 19 photographs on Friday, junior goaltender Drew Commesso was once unavailable Sunday because of an harm. This positioned junior goaltender Vinny Duplessis in the beginning position, which resulted in a stellar efficiency en path to victory.
In addition to Duplessis, the Terriers won contributions right through all the lineup. Junior defenseman Cade Webber scored his first collegiate function in 48 video games. Physical efforts from all the team, particularly junior ahead Luke Tuch and senior ahead Sam Stevens, helped frustrate a high-flying Wolverines squad.
“Great road win by our guys,” head trainer Jay Pandolfo mentioned following the victory. “After what happened the other night, to come back out tonight and play that way is a big character win for our group.”
Despite an early tally from Michigan freshman ahead T.J. Hughes, the Terriers carried over their robust first length five-on-five play from Friday night time. Even even though the Terriers had a 10-8 shot virtue and plenty of high-danger probabilities in the primary length, BU was once not able to unravel Michigan junior goaltender Erik Portillo.
Similar to Friday night time, the Terriers needed to fend off the fatal Michigan man-advantage. Midway throughout the first length, captain and senior ahead Domenick Fensore and freshman ahead Jeremy Wilmer took successive minor consequences, forcing the Terriers to kill off a five-on-three for 39 seconds.
“We were more disciplined, we still can get better at that,” Pandolfo mentioned. “The end result was what we wanted.”
After robust five-on-five play early in the second one length, the Terriers discovered the equalizer. Freshman ahead Ryan Greene discovered Webber bursting in opposition to the online for a two-on-one to even up the competition at 6:56 of the center body.
“I knew [Greene] saw me so I anticipated a little bit … I was thinking that he was going to give it to me and he put it right there for me and luckily it went home,” Webber mentioned. “To be honest, I didn’t even know it went in.”
The contest didn’t keep even for lengthy as Michigan accumulated their fourth power-play function of the weekend. Wolverine sophomore ahead Dylan Duke was once ready to search out the wide-open again of the online on a de-facto five-on-three after senior ahead Ethan Philips had misplaced his stick additional up ice.
The Terriers confirmed their unravel, even though, discovering the equalizer not up to two mins later. Fensore’s wrister from the purpose made its well beyond Portillo to tie the sport as soon as once more and proceed the dogfight.
From that time on, the Terriers didn’t glance again. Senior ahead Matt Brown buried his 2d function of the yr after a slick feed from senior ahead Jay O’Brien, giving the Terriers their first lead of the weekend. With their 2d power-play function of the night time, the Terriers had became particular groups in their desire.
BU carried their lead into the 3rd length, the place their physicality persisted to frustrate Michigan. After heading off a past due push by way of the Wolverines, the Terriers heard a victorious ultimate buzzer, incomes themselves a weekend split in opposition to a best opponent.
“We have a good, sound defensive structure,” Webber mentioned. “I think when we kill plays and play fast, no team in the country can play with us.”
The robust bounce-back effort was once headlined by way of a robust efficiency by way of Duplessis, who stepped up in every other high-stakes sport, preventing 31 of 33 photographs.
“Vinny’s a gamer,” Pandolfo mentioned. “He’s always ready … Anytime we put him in there, he’s going to do the job for us. He did that again tonight.”
The Terriers may have every other tricky matchup this weekend, the place they are going to be welcomed again house to Agganis Arena to stand the undefeated University of Connecticut Huskies. With momentum in their desire heading into Hockey East play, the Terriers want to handle their scorching begin to the season.
“Even with the 9-2 loss on Friday, we still had some confidence coming in today,” Duplessis mentioned. “A win like this is unreal. We’ve got to keep it going and can’t take it for granted.”