BU Blanks UNH in Season Opener

It's pretty clear that starting goalie Kieran Millan got some good work in over the last week, as he put his dismal five goal drubbing behind him and picked up the shutout in the year's first real game.

Both teams were held scoreless through the first period, but there was still plenty of action. Millan made a great save on a two on one little over five minutes in. Matt Nieto planted a UNH skater that looked to be about two times the size of him.

Corey Trivino breaks the puck out of the UNH end in the
second period. Trivino scored BU's second goal of the
evening.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

BU jumped out to a 1-0 lead 3:16 into the second frame. Chris Connolly set up Wade Megan for his first official goal of the season (Megan had two goals in the exhibition game). Megan was camped out in the low slot on the BU power play and Connolly found him from behind the net. Megan had his stick on the ice to entire time and slammed it past UNH goalie Matt DiGirolamo.

Minutes later, Connolly set up another goal. This time he fed fellow senior Corey Trivino with a perfect back-door pass that Trivino simply re-directed past DiGirolamo and into the back of the net. That concluded the scoring for the second period. BU took over play following the Trivino goal, dominating time of position, but UNH still held a slim 29-23 shot advantage heading into the third.

Matt Nieto celebrates after his third
 period goal.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

The Terriers opened the flood-gates minutes into period number three. Alex Chiasson made a great play to cover for pinching defenseman Alexx Privitera. Chiasson was able to keep a bouncing puck in the attacking zone before rifling a shot that DiGirolamo stopped, but was not able control the rebound which Matt Nieto deposited into the goal.

Strangely, UNH pulled DiGirolamo with about 5:30 left in the game after they called a timeout. Needless to say the gamble didn't work, as Alex Chiasson scored with relative ease on the goalie-less net.

Kevin Gilroy picked up a garbage goal with three minutes even left. Justin Courtnall made a heads-up play to keep the puck deep in the UNH zone. A Wildcat turnover allowed Gilroy to swooped in  behind the net and potted a wrap-a-round goal on DiGirolamo.

With the win under their belts, BU moves to 1-0-0 on the season and currently sits in a two way tie for first place in Hockey East.

After winning tonight's game, goalie Kieran Millan passed former BU great Sean Fields for the all time wins record. Millan currently has 62 career wins.

BU takes on Providence next Friday night, before playing national power Denver on Saturday.