STORRS, Conn. - Senior Max Kaufman sent the game to overtime and freshman Luke Tuch provided the winner as the No. 11/12 Boston University men's ice hockey team pulled off a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over UConn on Saturday at Freitas Ice Forum.
The Huskies jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first before sophomore Jay O'Brien scored in the final minute of the period to make it a 2-1 game. The teams then went scoreless for nearly 35 minutes before Kaufman notched his first goal as a Terrier.
Tuch batted down a deflected puck off a rush and found the top left corner of the net from the slot 44 seconds into overtime to end the game and lift BU to the win.
The Terriers are now 9-2-0 on the year, their best start through 11 games since the 1997-98 squad opened the year with a 11-1-0 mark. UConn falls to 8-9-2.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UConn wasted little time getting on the board as Carter Berger got a puck past BU netminder Vinny Duplessis just 1:28 into the contest.
- The Huskies doubled their lead when a back-door attempt went off a BU skate and in with 4:28 remaining in the opening period.
- The Terriers were able to get one back before the first intermission, however, as Kaufman attracted multiple defenders on a rush before slipping the puck to an open O'Brien with 51 seconds left in the stanza.
- The teams combined for 26 shots in the first period with UConn recording 15 and BU registering 11.
- The Terriers came out strong in the second period but had nothing to show for it and then had a 5-minute power play after Kale Howarth had an early exit with five-minute major for roughing and a game misconduct.
- BU was unable to capitalize on the major power play but kept the UConn offense at bay and remained just a goal down.
- Each team had great chances in the early stages of the third but it the scoreless drought continued.
- BU was able to keep the puck in the UConn zone for an extended period of time and then freshman Cade Webber won a puck battle that led to the game-tying goal.
- Webber pushed the puck down the left boards and it went off of O'Brien's skate to senior Logan Cockerill, who found Kaufman in the slot for a one-timer that beat UConn netminder Tomas Vomacka with 6:01 to play.
- Matching minors occurred with 2:13 remaining to create 4-on-4 play in the late stages and then O'Brien drew a tripping call with 1:17 remaining to set up a power-play chance.
- The Terriers couldn't get a winner in overtime but Tuch's decisive tally came right after the UConn penalty expired in overtime.
- Tuch pounced on a wide UConn shot attempt and got a rush going with a pass to Cockerill, and after a UConn defender got a stick on the puck to elevate it, Tuch knocked it down right to his forehand in the slot, where he notched his fifth goal of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- This was the fourth straight BU visit to UConn that the teams went to overtime and the Huskies won the previous three.
- Duplessis made 27 saves for the Terriers to improve to 4-0-0 on the year.
- Vomacka had a 28-save performance as BU held a 31-29 shot advantage.
- Cockerill assisted on all three BU goals.
- O'Brien now six points (4g, 2a) over the past three games.
- BU now has nine wins in their past 10 games, marking its best 10-game run since the 2008-09 NCAA championship team won 12 of its final 13 contests.
UP NEXT
- The Terriers will learn their next opponent on Tuesday (Feb. 23).
