McAvoy, Keller - NCAA West Regional Celebration
Jim Rosvold

Double-OT Goal Pushes No. 6 Terriers Past No. 10 North Dakota in NCAA Opener

March 24, 2017

| Highlights | Postgame Video: Keller/McAvoy/Oettinger/Quinn | Quotes | Photo Gallery (Jim Rosvold)

FARGO, N.D – Freshman Clayton Keller found sophomore Charlie McAvoy at the foot of the right circle in the 12th minute of double overtime to lead the No. 6 Boston University men's ice hockey team to a thrilling 4-3 victory over No. 10 North Dakota in the opening round of the NCAA West Regional on Friday. 

THE RUNDOWN

Final Score: #6 Boston University 4, #10 North Dakota 3 (2OT)
Records: BU (24-11-3), North Dakota (21-16-3)
Location: Scheels Arena – Fargo, N.D.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Freshman Jake Oettinger recorded 56 saves, including 21 in the third period alone, to keep the Terriers in the game.
  • BU broke a 1-1 tie with goals from sophomores Bobo Carpenter and Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson in the first five minutes of the third period but the Fighting Hawks battled back with goals just over three minutes apart to send the game to overtime.
  • A North Dakota goal 3:48 into overtime was overturned due to the play being offsides.
  • The Fighting Hawks went 66 minutes without taking a penalty until Gage Ausmus hooked Keller on a breakaway 51 seconds into the second overtime.
  • The ensuing power play only lasted 45 seconds before BU's Jordan Greenway was sent off for goaltender interference but the Terriers were able to get back to full strength thanks to their penalty kill finishing off a perfect 6-for-6 performance for the game.
  • At 8:12 of the second overtime, Keller skated along the outer edge of the left circle and spotted McAvoy before flinging a cross-ice pass right to the defenseman's stick. McAvoy buried the chance and ended the game, lifting BU to the thrilling victory.
  • UND's Rhett Gardner opened the scoring with 2:56 remaining in the first period.
  • With his first goal of the season, senior captain Doyle Somerby knotted the game at 1-all just 2:05 into the middle stanza.

GAME NOTES

  • The Terriers blocked 51 UND shots and junior Brandon Hickey recorded 17 of them, which is the most by a BU player since individual blocks became an official statistic.
  • Keller earned two assists and extended his point streak to nine games (6g, 8a).
  • Freshman Patrick Harper also picked up a pair of assists while senior Nick Roberto, sophomore Jordan Greenway and freshman Patrick Curry each earned one helper.
  • BU went 0-for-2 on the power play but killed off all six of UND's chances with the man advantage.
  • Cam Johnson recorded 25 saves for the Fighting Hawks, who held a 59-29 advantage in shots.
  • The game lasted 91:48, marking BU's longest contest since a season-ending loss to Providence in the third and decisive game of the 2001 Hockey East quarterfinals on March 11, 2001.
  • This was the first time the Terriers allowed over 50 shots since a 3-3 draw with North Dakota at Agganis Arena on Nov. 23, 2013.
  • Somerby became the 41st player in program history to play in 150 career games.

UP NEXT

  • The Terriers move on to the regional final and will face third-ranked Minnesota Duluth at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday.
  • The game will be televised live on ESPNU.
  • In Friday's second game, the Bulldogs survived a scare from fourth-seeded Ohio State and advanced with a 3-2 overtime victory.
Print Friendly Version