Boston University doubles up Northeastern

Senior right wing Patrick Harper scored twice and freshman center Trevor Zegras posted three points (all assists) for the third time in a brief 16-game career as Boston University doubled up No. 8 Northeastern, 6-3, in front of 3,681 Agganis Arena fans. Graduate transfer Sam Tucker backstopped the win with 37 saves.

“Overall, a good team win. I thought we came out ready to play right away,” said BU coach Albie O’Connell, whose Terriers reached the semester break at .500 overall (6-6-5, 4-3-4 HE). “They threw a lot of pucks at the net but we have pretty resilient group. Sam (Tucker) competed. He fights. If he doesn’t have it, he still competes.”

BU freshman left wing Jamie Aremstrong almost put his club on the board in the opening minutes when his shot flicked off the catching glove of NU graduate transfer Craig Pantano (21 saves) of Bridgewater and just missed falling into the net behind.

NU forward Matt Filipe got hauled down just outside the BU zone and looked to the official for a call but none was forthcoming. The Terriers swung into transition with the puck landin ahead to a streaking Harper. The senior split the NU defense and flipped in a high backhand at 7:13. The goal gave Harper four points (2-2-4) over the last two games and moved him to within a deuce of 100-career points.

Defense went out the window in the middle period with seven goals being scored, including five in the opening five minutes. All five of those were in a span of 3 minutes, 44 seconds starting at 0:33. NU connected twice in a 12-second spurt to grab a 2-1 lead before BU tied it. The teams then traded goals.

NU got things rolling when BU was slow to clear the puck from its zone and four Terriers stood around deep in their end. NU center Zach Solow took the puck along the left boards and fired a shot that hit the target for his sixth goal. Senior assistant captain John Picking of Wellesley was stationed to the right of the crease and potted his fourth goal at 0:45.

BU answered at the 1:25 mark when sophomore right wing Jack DeBoer connected for his first goal in four appearances this season. It was brief tie as NU freshman Aidan McDonough collected his own rebound and converted the power play chance at 2:55. It was the fourth tally for the Milton product.

Harper one-timed a pass from Zegras for his second goal and eighth of the season at 4:17 to tie. Harper, who averaged a point-a-game over his first two seasons (58 in 58) before an undisclosed illness temporarily shelved his career, is back in full health and has nine multiple-goal and 27 multiple point efforts in 111 games.

“(Harper) is terrific. He came back with the right mindset,” O’Connell said. “Once we put the ‘A’ on his jersey he’s been a leader right away. From Day One he’s all about team. He’s playing terrific. He has to be one of the best players in the country. It’s nice to see. He’s taken his game to another level…And, Zegras can be electric out there.”

BU freshman forward Robert Mastrosimone finished a juicy Patrick Curry rebound at 13:50 and was followed with a goal by defenseman Domenick Fensore at 15:35 to stake a 5-3 lead after two periods.

BU’ Matthew Quercia blocked a shot and found the empty net at 17:39 for a shortie, BU’s second of the season, to cap the scoring.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/38aulEi