Box Score

BOSTON - Freshman Jack Eichel scored two goals and added an assist against his former squad to help the Boston University men's ice hockey team claim a 6-4 victory over the U.S. National Under-18 Team in an exhibition contest on Saturday evening at Agganis Arena.

Eichel teamed up with juniors Danny O'Regan (1g, 2a) and Ahti Oksanen (1g, 1a), as the line combined for eight points on the night. Senior Evan Rodrigues gave BU the lead for good early in the second period and freshman J.J. Piccinich added a late empty-netter.

Auston Matthews paced the U18s with two goals and an assist while Jeremy Bracco contributed a goal and two helpers. Christian Fischer scored an unassisted goal to make it 5-4 with 3:44 remaining in regulation, but the Terriers drew a penalty and then scored on a 6-on-4 power play after the U.S. pulled Luke Opilka in favor of an extra attacker.

In goal, freshman Connor LaCouvee made 20 saves for the Terriers to pick up the win. Opilka totaled 25 saves on the night.

The Terriers outshot Team USA, 31-24, and each team went 2-for-3 on the power play.

O'Regan opened the scoring 14:51 into the first period as he was the beneficiary of a tic-tac-toe play by the top forward line. Eichel found Oksanen above the left post and then Oksanen quickly connected a cross-crease pass that O'Regan roofed to make it a 1-0 contest.

The visitors were able to draw even before the first intermission as Bracco converted at the doorstep on a power play at the 17:14 mark on assists from Matthews and McAvoy.

Rodrigues and fellow senior Cason Hohmann helped the Terriers regain the lead just 34 seconds into the middle stanza. Hohmann skated below the goal on the right side before finding Rodrigues, who converted at the right post.

Eichel scored his first goal on a 2-on-1 rush at 3:41 of the second. Skating up the right side, the freshman attempted a pass to O'Regan, but the puck went off the stick of a defender and in.

Just 62 seconds later with the Terriers on a power play, Eichel scored again, as he glided up the ice before burying a wrister from the right circle on assists from junior captain Matt Grzelcyk and LaCouvee to make it a 4-1 affair.

The U18 squad fought back, however, thanks to back-to-back goals by Matthews at 6:21 and 12:37 of the middle period with the first coming on a power play.

BU regained a two-goal cushion with the eventual game winner midway through the third Oksanen sent home the puck on assists from O'Regan and sophomore Doyle Somerby.

Fischer's breakaway goal to make it 5-4 gave Team USA hope, but Piccinich dashed it with his empty-netter.

BU will return to action on Friday (Oct. 24) when they play host to Michigan State. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.