BOSTON - The Boston University men's ice hockey team closed out the first half on a high note, posting a 6-3 victory over No. 8/12 Northeastern in a battle of crosstown rivals on Saturday evening at Agganis Arena.

Senior Patrick Harper had a pair of goals and freshman Trevor Zegras added a trio assists to help the Terriers move to an even 6-6-5 overall and 4-3-4 in Hockey East play.

BU erased a pair of one-goal deficits in the second period alone and scored the game's final four goals to emerge victorious.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Terriers scored the lone goal of the opening period as Harper took a pass from freshman Case McCarthy and got ahead of the defense before beating NU netminder Craig Pantano high with a backhand 7:13 into the contest.
• A wild second period took place with a combined seven goals as each team had a lead in the stanza and there were three ties.
• The Huskies came out firing in the second, scoring twice in the opening minute of the period on goals by Zach Solow and Matt Filipe to suddenly move ahead, 2-1.
• The lead did not last long, however, as sophomore Jack DeBoer made it a 2-2 contest with his first goal of the season, collecting a rebound in the left circle off a David Farrance shot before finding the top right corner of the net at the 1:25 mark.
• The first power-play chance for either team came at 2:23 of the second and Northeastern took full advantage of it, getting a goal from Aiden McDonough to regain the lead at 3-2.
• It was all Terriers from then on out as Sam Tucker stopped the final 17 shots he faced while his skaters reeled off four goals.
• Harper tied the game at 3-3 when he one-timed an offering from Zegras at 4:17. 
• The eventual game-winner came from the stick of Robert Mastrosimone as the rookie followed up the rebound off a Patrick Curry shot at the right post to put the home team up for good at the 13:50 mark of the second.
• BU took a 5-3 lead into the second intermission thanks to freshman Domenick Fensore's second goal of the season as Zegras gave him the puck before he converted on a wrister from the left slot with 4:25 remaining in the middle frame.
• The Terriers the visitors four power-play chances in the final period but the Huskies could not convert and sophomore Matthew Quercia potted an shorthanded empty-netter from the BU zone with 2:21 to play to create the 6-3 final.

GAME NOTES

• BU earned a 5-2 win over No. 12/9 Harvard on Tuesday, creating the first back-to-back wins for the Terriers this season.
• The Terriers put together their first December with no losses or ties since 2004.
• Northeastern held a 40-27 shot advantage and got a 21-save effort from Pantano.
• Tucker recorded 37 saves to improve to 6-4-5 on the season.
• BU went 0-for-2 on the power play while the Huskies converted on one of their five chances.

UP NEXT

• BU's next official game takes place in a month with it hosts Brown on Jan. 8.
• The Terriers will play two exhibitions over the semester break beginning on Dec. 29 when they host Corcordia at 5 p.m.
• All proceeds for the Concordia game will benefit the Travis Roy Foundation.