March 6, 2009
Box Score | In-Game Blog
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Sophomore Nick Bonino scored a career-best five points (2g, 3a) and senior Brandon Yip recorded four points, including his first hat trick that was capped with his 100th career point, as the top-ranked Boston University men's ice hockey team rolled to an 8-2 road victory over Providence on Friday night at Schneider Arena. The Terriers extend their unbeaten streak to 15 games (12-0-3) and improve to 26-5-4 overall with a 17-5-4 conference mark.
BU, however, was not able to gain ground on Northeastern, which won a dramatic 2-1 overtime game at home against Boston College to keep a one-point lead over the Terriers for first place in the Hockey East standings. If the Huskies defeat the Eagles tomorrow, they will clinch the regular-season title outright. BU can finish no lower than second in the final standings.
The Terriers scored four goals in a span of 8:01 in the first period and then took a commanding 5-0 lead just under eight minutes into the second on Bonino's second consecutive power-play goal. The Friars got on the just over three minutes later, but BU scored three of the final four goals, including two from Yip, to cruise to the victory.
BU's line of Bonino, Yip and senior John McCarthy combined for 12 points on the night, as McCarthy tallied a career-high three points on a goal and two assists. Senior Chris Higgins, sophomore Colin Wilson and freshman Victor Saponari each earned two assists, while junior Zach Cohen and senior Jason Lawrence each scored a goal. Lawrence's marker was his team-leading 21st of the year.
Yip became the 76th player in program history to reach the 100-point mark, and the second this season, as Higgins reached the century mark on Nov. 29 against St. Lawrence.
Freshman goaltender Kieran Millan made 20 saves in the BU goal to improve to 21-1-3 on the year and 15-0-3 in his last 18 decisions.
Providence, which fell to 7-21-5 on the year with a 4-17-5 record in league play, got goals from freshman Matt Bergland and sophomore Eric Baier. Freshman goaltender Alex Beaudry allowed seven goals on 24 shots before being replaced by senior Chris Mannix, who stopped one of the two shots he faced in the final 15:32.
BU's top-rated power play converted on two of its four chances on the night, while Providence went 1-of-3.
The eight-goal output was a season high for the Terriers, who last reached that mark in a 9-1 road victory over Vermont on Nov. 16, 2007.
The Terriers and Friars will close out the regular season on Sunday (March 8) at Agganis Arena. Game time is set for 2 p.m.
