April 9, 2009
The top-ranked and top-seeded Boston University men's ice hockey team has returned to the Frozen Four for the first time since 1997. The Terriers are facing Vermont in the national semifinals on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. with the game broadcast live on ESPN2.
Check back to this page throughout Thursday's game for live updates.
BU 5, Vermont 4 - FINAL
11:09 p.m. - GAME OVER - Rob Madore doesn't get out of the net until about 30 seconds remain and the Catamounts can't even put a shot on net. It took a diving save from a Vermont defenseman at the buzzer to prevent an empty net goal. The Terriers advance to the national championship game for the first time since 1997.
11:06 p.m. - The final TV timeout comes with 1:08 to go. Rob Madore has not yet had a chance to leave the net. Vermont coach Kevin Sneddon is surely drawing up a play for the extra attacker. Vermont still has its timeout remaining as well.
11:04 p.m. - Luke Popko killed a good 20 seconds skating behind the Vermont net and there's less than two minutes to go. All eyes are on Rob Madore to see when he leaves the Vermont net to give the Catamounts an extra attacker.
11:00 p.m. - BU GOAL!! - 5-4 BU - Colin Wilson knocks in a rebound on a shot from Chris Higgins and the Terriers regain the lead. It's the second goal of the night for Wilson and Higgins now has a goal and three assists this evening. Five minutes to go in what has been a thriller tonight.
10:58 p.m. - Chris Higgins' goal brings to mind Jason Lawrence's game-winning goal in the Northeast Regional final against New Hampshire. Like Higgins, Lawrence was attempting to pass across the crease when his pass was deflected be a defender into his own net.
10:55 p.m. - BU GOAL!! - Score tied 4-4 - Jason Lawrence dishes to Chris Higgins streaking up the right side. Higgins looked to be passing across the crease back to Lawrence, but the puck caught a Vermont stick right at the far post and snuck into the net. Brian Strait gets the second assist. We're even again with six minutes to go.
10:54 p.m. - The power play expires and both teams are back at even strength. John McCarthy had the best look on the extra-man opportunity.
10:51 p.m. - The Terriers are facing their first third-period deficit since the Hockey East semifinals against Boston College. The Terriers get a power play with 9:11 on the clock as Corey Carlson goes for interference. BU is 1-for-2 on the power play tonight.
10:48 p.m. - Vermont Goal - 4-3 UVM - Drew MacKenzie rips a shot from near the blue line that Kieran Millan gets a piece of, but trickles into the goal. It's the first collegiate goal for the freshman MacKenzie to give the Catamounts the lead.
10:44 p.m. - Brandon Yip is sent to the box for cross-checking with 11:54 to go and Vermont will get the first power play of the third period. The Catamounts are 1-for-6 on the power play.
10:40 p.m. - Colin Wilson tries the between-the-legs move again on a pass from Jason Lawrence, but Rob Madore makes the save. Shots in the game are now even at 24-24.
10:38 p.m. - Luke Popko puts a good shot on net as the Terriers' fourth line wraps up a great shift.
10:36 p.m. - Dan Lawson unleashes a big hit that sends Chris Connolly limping off the ice, although Connolly remains on the bench. The Terriers regain possession, though, and Steve Smolinsky makes a nice move to give Zach Cohen a scoring chance that is saved by Rob Madore.
10:34 p.m. - The third period is underway. This is the second straight game that the Terriers have been tied headed to the third as the score was 1-1 after two in the Northeast Regional final against New Hampshire.
10:28 p.m. - Shots through two periods are 23-20 in favor of the Catamounts. Brandon Yip has been credited with the second assist on Vinny Saponari's game-tying goal.
10:19 p.m. - Michigan State goalie Jeff Lerg came on the ice at the second intermission to accept the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Lerg's season began at Agganis Arena where his Spartans played in the Ice Breaker Tournament. The Terriers topped Michigan State, 2-1, in the championship game on Oct. 11.
10:15 p.m. - The second period expires with a 3-3 score. The Terriers are 6-1-3 when tied at the second intermission this season, while the Catamounts are 5-3-2 in such circumstances. We can be sure of one thing - this game won't end in a tie.
10:13 p.m. - BU GOAL!! - 3-3 tie - Vinny Saponari comes through with a splendid finish on a great pass from Nick Bonino after Bonino outmaneuvered a Catamount defender and dished to Saponari who one-timed it past Rob Madore. We're back even with a minute to go in the second.
10:08 p.m. - The Terriers get their first power play of the second period after Patrick Cullity and Corey Trivino get tangled up and Cullity is called for interference. BU is 0-for-1 on the power play tonight.
10:06 p.m. - The power-play begins with a shorthanded odd-man rush for BU, but the Terriers can't convert. That was the best scoring chance for either side on the power play and both teams are back at even strength.
10:02 p.m. - Chris Higgins gets the puck to Jason Lawrence for another great rip from the slot, but Rob Madore is there once again and Colin Wilson is wide on the rebound. Lawrence now goes to the box for charging. Vermont is 1-for-5 on the power play tonight.
9:59 p.m. - Brandon Yip fires a shot from the left circle that is hits the near post before Colby Cohen also finds iron. Despits falling behind, the Terriers are back generating some good scoring chances.
9:58 p.m. - Jason Lawrence puts a point-blank shot on Rob Madore from the slot, but the Catamounts' goalie makes the save. Kevin Shattenkirk also takes a good shot before Dan Lawson gets free for a one-on-one chance that Kieran Millan saves.
9:54 p.m. - Vermont goal - 3-2 UVM - Just 42 seconds after tying the game, Josh Burrows strikes to give the Catamounts their first lead of the game. The goal came after John McCarthy had a good chance at the other end that was saved by Rob Madore. Jack Parker takes his timeout and the Terriers will try to regroup. This is only the second time all season that Kieran Millan has given up three goals in a period.
9:52 p.m. - Vermont goal - 2-2 tie - Kieran Millan makes a great kick save on a shot by Viktor Stalberg, but the rebound is sent across to Justin Milo, who has an open net to level the score. It's a new game with just over 10 minutes to go in the second period.
9:49 p.m. - Justin Milo broke his stick firing a shot from the left side that Kieran Millan got in front of for the save. Soon after Eric Gryba returns from the box, Vinny Saponari gets two minutes for tripping.
9:46 p.m. - Vermont will get another power play as Eric Gryba is sent to the box for high-sticking Colin Vock. The Catamounts are 0-for-3 so far on power plays.
9:43 p.m. - Another good rush by Vermont, but the Catamounts are stuffed by Kieran Millan on this trip. The Vermont goal and a subsequent TV timeout may have taken some of the wind out of the Terriers' sails.
9:40 p.m. - Vermont Goal - 2-1 BU - Wahsontiio Stacey rips a shot from the right to the far side, beating Millan to put the Catamounts on the board. While BU has more fans on hand than Vermont, the Miami fans remaining cheered for the Catamounts. Patrick Cullity gets the assist.
9:36 p.m. - Nick Bonino puts together a couple of nice chances in short order. First, he steals the puck in the neutral zone and puts a shot on Rob Madore. Soon after, Bonino fires a shot from the left circle that first appeared to be a blocker save, but was reviewed by the officials. A second look reveals that the puck got past Madore and hit the crossbar, but was clearly no goal.
9:34 p.m. - Jason Lawrence sends a backhander across the crease that Dean Strong almost puts in his own net. After the play, some pleasantries are exchanged in the corner and Colin Wilson and Patrick Cullity receive matching minors for roughing.
9:32 p.m. - The second period is underway and the teams are back at even strength after Colby Cohen served the final seven seconds of his penalty.
9:28 p.m. - The Frozen Four has completely taken over the Verizon Center. As you look around the arena, you would never know who the usual tenants are. Whatever banners the Capitals and Wizards have hung have been removed in favor of banners recognizing all the previous national champions. Only BU is represented in the rafters with four previous titles. Bemidji State, Miami and Vermont have never won the Division I national championship. The Terriers are reminded of the usual tenants between periods, though. As the top seed, BU earned the right to use the Capitals luxurious locker room.
9:22 p.m. - Several participants from tomorrow night's Frozen Four Skills Challenge took the ice for a fastest skater contest at the first intermission. BU will be represented in the skills contest with goalie Allyse Wilcox of the women's team one of the two goalies for the East team. Matt Gilroy was also selected, but with the Terriers playing for the big prize, he won't be participating. The skills contest is part of Friday Night at the Frozen Four, which also features the announcements of the Hockey Humanitarian Award and the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. Gilroy and Colin Wilson are two of the three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award. The event is held at the Verizon Center and tickets are $10.
9:15 p.m. - The first period comes to a close. The Terriers have outshot the Catamounts, 14-7, and have a 2-0 lead on the big board. A promising start so far for BU.
9:11 p.m. - BU will close out the first period on the penalty kill as Colby Cohen gets two minutes for cross-checking with 1:53 on the clock. Vermont is 0-for-2 on the power play so far.
9:08 p.m. - After a somewhat slow start to this one, the game has really picked up since the midpoint of the first period. 3:09 on the clock now as we get a breather with the final TV timeout of the opening frame.
9:06 p.m. - BU GOAL!! - 2-0 BU - After the teams returned to even strength, Jason Lawrence strikes, converting a nice pass across the slot from Chris Higgins. The goal came soon after the defensive play of the game so far as Colby Cohen saved a puck that got past Kieran Millan by flicking it across the crease parallel to the goal line.
9:02 p.m. - Kieran Millan brings Terrier Nation to its feet with a great save on a Brian Roloff breakaway. Matching minors for some contact after the whistle. BU freshmen Chris Connolly and David Warsofsky put a couple of good shots on Madore.
9:00 p.m. - 26 seconds into the power play, Chris Higgins is whistled for interference so we'll have 1:34 of four-on-four action, followed by a 26-second Catamount power play.
8:57 p.m. - After putting the Terriers on the board, Colin Wilson draws the first Vermont penalty of the game. Peter Lenes is sent to the sin bin for hooking. The Terriers have shown a propensity for scoring goals in bunches of late and will get their first power-play opportunity of the game.
8:53 p.m. - BU GOAL!! - 1-0 BU - Kevin Shattenkirk tales a shot from the left side that Colin Wilson deflects through his own legs and past goalie Rob Madore. Chris Higgins is credited with the secondary assist. The goal came just after Higgins had a great chance that was saved by Madore.
8:50 p.m. - Still scoreless at the second TV timeout of the game. TV timeouts are called at the first whistle after 18, 12, 8 and 4 minutes remain in each period, although they will not interrupt power plays.
8:46 p.m. - Both teams have had some decent scoring chances so far, but to no avail. Millan has stopped the first three shots he's faced, while Madore has made four saves so far.
8:41 p.m. - The Terriers kill off the penalty and both teams return to even strength. Both teams are well-represented in the stands here in D.C., although there looks to be more scarlet and white in the crowd than green and gold. Chris Parks and the Terrier Pep Band are on hand as well, bringing all the sights and sounds of Agganis Arena to the nation's capital.
8:38 p.m. - The Catamounts will get the first power play of the game with Kevin Shattenkirk sent to the box for elbowing.
8:36 p.m. - The winner of tonight's game will go on to face Miami for the national championship on Saturday. The RedHawks were 4-1 winners over Bemidji State in the early game today.
8:34 p.m. - The puck has dropped. Here are Vermont's lines:
Stalberg - Roloff - Milo
Vock - Strong - Stacey
Lenes - Carlson - Downing
Anctil - Higgins - Atkinson
Cullity - Burrows
Medvec - Miller
MacKenzie - Lawson
Madore in goal
8:23 p.m. - Welcome from the Verizon Center in Washington. We are set for an on-time start with the puck dropping at 8:34 p.m. Here are BU's lines, unchanged from the Northeast Regional final triumph over New Hampshire:
McCarthy - Bonino - Yip
Higgins - Wilson - Lawrence
Connolly - Trivino - Vin Saponari
Z. Cohen - Popko - Smolinsky
Strait - M. Gilroy
C. Cohen - Shattenkirk
Warsofsky - Gryba
Millan in goal
