Box score
In a seesaw battle that sported three different ties, Northeastern came up short in a 5-4 thriller against Boston University at Agganis Arena on Friday night.
The Huskies played catch-up the entire game, evening the count at 1-1, 2-2 and 4-4, but could not match Vinny Saponari's game-winner at 10:31 in the third period.
All nine goals came in even-strength fashion as Northeastern and BU finished 0-4 and 0-3, respectively, on the powerplay.
The Terriers outshot NU in all three periods, totaling 33 attempts to the Huskies' 25. Freshman netminder Chris Rawlings stopped 28 shots as his overall record dipped to 15-13-2. BU's Kieran Millan made 21 saves to even out his mark to 13-13-0.
Freshman Jake Newton registered his first-career two-goal game while sophomore Mike McLaughlin lit the lamp for the first time this season. The Seaforth, Ontario native added an assist on Newton's first goal, as well.
Northeastern offered up the first few grade-A chances, but it was Wade Megan who got the Terriers on the board at 3:46 of the first period. Colby Cohen tossed the initial shot on net, but the puck bounced off of Rawlings' pad to a wide-open Megan for the quick 1-0 lead.
Newton sewed it back up with a quick wrister at 7:36. The Huskies earned a faceoff in BU's zone and McLaughlin won it back cleanly to Newton on the far boards. Newton weaved through a couple Terriers and beat Millan on the near post for Northeastern's first marker of the game.
Boston University quickly reclaimed the lead after Zach Cohen stuffed it through Rawlings' stance at 8:55. The scoring play went under review as the officials thought the net was out of position, but upon further analysis, the official signaled toward center ice, indicating a 2-1 edge for the Terriers.
A Terriers' turnover yielded the Huskies' second tally of the contest at 16:06. Junior Tyler McNeely intercepted a puck rimmed out by a BU winger and kicked it out to J. Daniels flanking to his right. J. Daniels went coast-to-coast, looked off his linemate and capped off the transitional tally with a low wristshot to tie it back up, 2-2.
The first period shoving match continued after Rawlings misplayed the puck out Alex Chiasson on a clearing attempt. With Rawlings out of position, Chiasson connected with Chris Connolly who then skated in and capitalized for BU's third goal at 17:18.
Boston University charged out of the gate in the second and extended its lead, 4-2, on a laser from David Warsofsky at 1:20. Chiasson connected with his defender in stride on the blue line and Warsofsky ripped his one-timer top-shelf for the two-goal pad.
Northeastern killed off over a minute of a 5 x 3 opportunity for the Terriers and the Huskies fed off the momentum to tie it back up on a pair of back-to-back goals 29 seconds apart.
Senior Jim Driscoll picked off a BU clearing attempt and deferred to freshman Garrett Vermeersch on the blue line. McLaughlin skated into the slot and Vermeersch hooked up with his winger in between the circles at 13:11.
The Huskies won the ensuing draw and a quick one-time goal from senior Chris Donovan to Newton closed up BU's advantage. Donovan dished out a great pass from behind the net to Newton who snuck behind a Terriers' defenseman for his second marker of the contest.
Neither team was able to bust the tie until the game-winning one-timer from Vinny Saponari at 10:31 to give the Terriers the 5-4 victory. Boston University cycled it through the offensive zone and unveiled a clear path for Kevin Shattenkirk to Saponari. Saponari's blast from the left dot beat lit the lamp to settle the score.
Northeastern and Boston University lock up for the final contest of the regular season on Senior Night at Matthews Arena tomorrow, March 6, at 7 p.m.
Game Notes
• The Huskies still control their own destiny in the race for the Hockey East playoffs. If Northeastern wins on Saturday, the Huskies are in. If both NU and Massachusetts lose tomorrow, Northeastern backs into a playoff spot. If Northeastern loses to BU in the finale and UMass ties or defeats Maine, UMass earns the playoff berth over Northeastern. Northeastern, Massachusetts and Vermont are all tied for seventh place with 24 points. Vermont owns the tiebreaker over NU as the Catamounts won the season series, 2-1. NU owns the tiebreaker over the Minutemen with the 2-1 regular season mark.
• Mike McLaughlin posted his first goal of the season, seventh of his career, and added an assist against Boston University. The points marks McLaughin's first appearance on the scoring sheet since a helper at UMass on Feb. 12. It marks McLaughlin's first two-point performance of the season and third of his career. The Seaforth, Ontario native's last multi-point outing came against UMass Lowell last year on Feb. 27, 2009. The sophomore forward has notched five points on the season.
• Jake Newton accounted for his first goals since beating Massachusetts, 6-3, on Feb. 13 at Matthews Arena. Newton's performance marks his first-career two-goal outing. Newton has scored nine goals on the season, 20 points in all. The San Jacinto, Calif, native has accounted for six multi-point games this year.
• Justin Daniels tallied his eighth goal of the season and in the process, strung together a three-game pointstreak, marking the longest of his young career.
• Tyler McNeely logged his 16th helper of the season and is tied with freshman Garrett Vermeersch for the team lead in assists.
• Chris Donovan assisted on Newton's second goal of the game, marking his first-career point against Boston University and his first point since the 7-0 victory at Dartmouth on Jan. 2. Donovan registered the point in his final regular-season appearance at Agganis Arena.
• Jim Driscoll logged his first point since earning an assist against Harvard on Feb. 8 in the consolation round of the Beanpot Tournament. The senior defensman's assist marks his 20th-career point.
