BOSTON, Mass. - Paced by a 36-save performance by junior Kieran Millan and goals from freshmen Adam Clendening and Matt Nieto, the No. 15 Boston University men's ice hockey team posted a 2-1 victory over Providence on Friday evening at Agganis Arena.
With the win, the Terriers stretched their unbeaten streak in Hockey East play to six (5-0-1) and improved to 15-9-7 overall with a 12-5-5 conference mark. The triumph also secured a season series win over Providence, which fell to 7-15-7 on the year and 3-13-6 in league play.
Nieto had a hand in both goals, opening the scoring 4:34 into the contest then assisting a power-play tally by Clendening in the second period that made it a 2-0 contest.
Millan made stopped the first 36 shots he faced before Providence's Ian O'Connor ruined the shutout bid with 1:26 left in regulation on a power-play marker.
The Terriers generated 18 shots on goal and several strong scoring opportunities in the opening stanza but settled for a 1-0 lead heading in the first intermission.
The opening period's lone tally came when Nieto converted from the slot following a pass from behind the net by sophomore Alex Chiasson. Sophomore Max Nicastro also picked up an assist on the play.
BU doubled its lead on a power-play opportunity midway through the second stanza. Junior Corey Trivino won a faceoff in the right circle and Nieto got the puck to Clendening at the right point. The rookie defenseman wristed a shot that found the top right corner of the net and eluded Friars' netminder Alex Beaudry at 9:38.
The Terriers did not commit a penalty until the 12:13 mark of the third period, but gave the Friars three late chances with the man advantage. O'Connor made it a one-goal game on a tally in transition with assists going to Daniel New and Mark Adams.
The Friars' comeback bid came up short after Tim Schaller committed a tripping penalty with 58 seconds left in regulation to put BU on the power play for the remainder of the contest.
Beaudry made 32 saves in a losing effort for the Friars.
The two teams will wrap up their weekend home-and-home series on Saturday (Feb. 19) when the Terriers visit Schneider Arena for a 7 p.m. contest.