Dec. 6, 2013
Box Score | Postgame Video (Daily Free Press)
Sat. at Agganis: Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Game Notes
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - The Boston University men's ice hockey team dropped a 3-2 road contest to Merrimack on Friday evening at Lawler Arena in the opener of a weekend home-and-home series. The teams will met at Agganis Arena on Saturday (Dec. 7) at 7 p.m.
Despite allowing the first goal of the game, the Terriers were able to gain the lead thanks to goals from sophomore Matt Grzelcyk and freshman Tommy Kelley. The Warriors, however, scored twice in the third to come away with the victory to snap BU's four-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1).
Sophomore Matt O'Connor made 27 saves in goal for BU, which went 0-for-4 on the power play. Merrimack, which scored on one of four chances with the man advantage, outshot BU, 30-17, and got a 17-save performance from Rasmus Tirronen.
Freshman Jonathan Lashyn gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead just 2:34 into the contest when his wrist shot from the left point went off a BU defender and in.
The Terriers (7-7-1, 2-4-0 Hockey East) got an equalizer in the final minute of the opening period when Grzelyck finished off a 2-on-1 with freshman Nick Roberto following a nice puck win along the half boards by sophomore Danny O'Regan.
The visitors took the lead at 9:08 of the second, as Kelley went forehand, backhand and through the five-hole of Tirronen after taking a pass from fellow freshman Robbie Baillargeon. Senior Matt Ronan started the play by forcing a turnover at the Merrimack blue line.
Trailing 2-1 entering the third, the Warriors created the second tie of the game when sophomore Brian Christie converted on a power play with 15:33 left in the final stanza. Senior Brandon Ellis and senior Mike Collins assisted on the tally.
The game-winner came from the stick of Collins, who took a feed from Christie at the right faceoff dot before skating in and wristing a shot past O'Connor's blocker with 9:30 remaining in regulation. Ellis picked up his second helper of the period on the marker.
Merrimack (4-9-1, 1-5-1 HE) held a 13-3 shot advantage in the third and went on to secure the 3-2 win and snap its seven-game losing skid (0-6-1).
