Terriers, Grzelcyk Post Touchdown On Umass

The difference Matt Grzelcyk has made since coming back from injury in the Terrier line up has been remarkable. Tonight he registered his first career hat-trick, a natural hat-trick at that. It was BU's first hat-trick by a defenseman since Ryan Whitney and Kevin Schaeffer both racked up three goals vs Yale on November 30, 2003.

Bobo Carpenter backhands a shot over Alex Wakaluk's glove
in the second period.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

Grzelcyk found twine for the first time just 20 seconds after UMass' Steven Iacobellis tied the game 2-2 in the second period. Grzelcyk answered for BU with a rising shot that hit a Umass defender in front and plopped in behind UMass goalie Alex Wakaluk. 

A few minutes later, Grzelcyk notched a power play goal from the right side set up by Danny O'Regan and Brandon Fortunato. Fortunato teed him up at the top of the circle and Grzelcyk onetimmed the pass off Wakaluk's glove and in.  That made it 4-2 Terriers, headed to the locker room.

18 seconds into the third, Danny O'Regan made a cut back move at the top of the near circle and fed to Grzelcyk in the high slot. Grzelcyk drilled a shot high and hard past Wakaluk to complete the hat-trick. 

Umass opened the scoring in the first on Shane Walsh's team leading 14th goal. He banged home a loose puck to Sean Maguire's right side and Iacobellis and Ray Pigozzi picked up the assists. 

In the dying minutes of the the first period, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson scored one of the stranger goals of the year to tie the game. From behind the goal line, he banked a shot off the left foot of Wakaluk, who was standing in the crease. The puck caromed off his foot and just trickled over the red stripe and in.

Bobo Carpenter got the lead for BU in the middle of the second period. He made a strong rush up the far side to get the puck in the zone. He did a good job following the play as he backhanded a rebound home off a Nick Olsson shot from in close. Doyle Somerby also had a hand in the goal. 

Following the Grzelcyk goals, BU poured it on with two more scores. Brandon Fortunato created a chance for Robbie Baillargeon right as a BU power play expired. From the nearside point, he found Robbie on the hash along the wall. From there, Baillargeon took a few steps and then beat Wakaluk short side for his fourth goal of the year. 

Jordan Greenway kicked the extra point for the BU football team off a shorthanded breakaway goal.

Maguire finished with 25 saves. He was solid all night, but did allow a few less than desirable rebounds but really nitpicking here more than anything. 

BU will face crosstown rival Boston College next weekend in a home and home series.