Tonight's 4-2 loss to Lowell could have easily been a win for BU, if they just had capitalized on more opportunities. Seconds into the game, Chris Connolly and Matt Nieto set up Alex Chiasson for slam in goal. Chiasson miss-hit the puck, and it slowly slid into Lowell goalie Doug Carr's pads. It would be a re-accuring theme for the Terriers all night.
With BU not able to score after applying heavy pressure in the opening minutes, Lowell picked up the game's first goal. A bad turnover deep in the BU zone, allowed Scott Wilson to tee up an uncontested slap-shot that whizzed past Kieran Millan, off the post and into the top corner. It gave Lowell a 1-0 lead just 3:37 into the game. It was Lowell's first shot on goal.
After the goal, BU played a pretty sloppy period with Millan making some key saves to keep the BU in the game. Lowell came out a bit sluggish in the second frame, and BU did in fact take advantage of that The fourth line, which played very well over the weekend, teamed up to tie the game. Ryan Santana got the puck to Yasin Cisse along the far boards. Cisse whipped a shot/pass to the mid slot. There, Ross Gaudet was able to get a stick on the puck, redirecting the pass into the net. It was Gaudet's fourth goal of the year.
Lowell dominated the second half of the period, mainly because they had a five minute power play. Sahir Gill was called for hitting from behind along the near side boards. At first, I thought it was awful call. After looking at it again, I think it was certainly a penalty. There was no need for Gill to plaster the UML player into the boards.
Lowell took full advantage of their five minute power play, scoring just 50 seconds into the major. Scott Wilson again got credit for the goal, as he tipped Chad Ruhwedel shot past Millan at the 12:17 marker of the second. It was Wilson's 15th goal of the season.
BU was able to kill the remaining 4:10 left on the all you can eat five minute power play, but Lowell was not done scoring in the period. Dan Furlong wristed a shot from the point, with just 26.2 second left in the period, past Millan giving Lowell a 3-1 headed to the dressing room. The goal was a real back-breaker in the overall out come of the game.
Lowell taked on a fourth goal midway through the third. Ruhwedel was able to burry a rebound in the slot at 9:02. The assists went to Furlong and Derek Arnold.
BU really started to bring the pressure after that goal. Chiasson hit the post and Matt Nieto missed two centering passes that had he got a stick on, very well could have gone in the net. The most un-opportunistic play the Terriers made all night came less than two minutes into the third period. Justin Courtnall made a strong play to cut tho the goal mouth before dishing a pass over to Cason Hohmann. Hohmann, who was trailing the play, slowed up a bit on his way to the far post. He never was able to get a good crack at the puck, and if he did, it would have been a goal. Carr was way out of position because of the Courtnall pass. All Hohmann had to do was get a stick on the pass and it would have gone in.
BU was able to to get the score to 4-2 one a power play goal. Ben Rosen found Max Nicastro at the right point. From there, Nicastro ripped a slapper past Carr into the top corner of the net. From there, BU continued to pour on the pressure, accumulating 22 shots on goal in the third period alone.
BU's snakebitten offense could not solve Carr again, and the Terriers dropped their fourth straight home game in the proses.
This games was a tough one for the Terriers to drop because of how close the league race is. After the loss, BU finds themselves in third place in Hockey East with 29 points, one point behind Lowell and two points behind Boston College. In addition, BU fell for 3rd to 6th in the PairWise. That's probable the least of BU's worries at the monument, but keep in mind the top four teams in the PWR get number one seeds in the NCAA tournament, and they also play in locations closest to home.
Next weekend, BU travels up to last place Vermont for a pair of games. I will be making my first ever trip up to Guterson Field House Friday night.
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