BOSTON - Three different Terriers lit the lamp and sophomore Ryan Greene collected two assists, but the top-ranked Boston University men's ice hockey team dropped a hard-fought 4-3 decision to No. 2 Boston College on Saturday night at a sold-out Agganis Arena.

BU (16-6-1, 11-3-1) battled back from a 2-0 first-period deficit thanks to goals from freshman Shane Lachance and graduate student Sam Stevens. BC (18-4-1, 11-3-1 HE) regained the lead at 14:12 of the second stanza and then added an insurance goal with 6:15 remaining in regulation. Freshman Macklin Celebrini's extra-attacker goal, his team-leading 17th of the season, with 2:11 on the clock gave BU life, but the Terriers' push for an equalizer over the final minutes came up empty.

Sophomores Lane and Quinn Hutson each recorded an assist, as did seniors Dylan Peterson and Luke Tuch. Junior Mathieu Caron made 21 saves for the Terriers while the Eagles' Jacob Fowler stopped 32 shots.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• BU was energized by the sellout crowd right from the opening puck drop but was unable to find a goal despite the strong start.
• The Eagles took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play at 10:08 of the first period and added an even-strength goal just 1:13 later as the second Terrier penalty expired.
• Lachance gave BU momentum heading into the first intermission as he lit the lamp with 14 seconds on the clock. Quinn Hutson played the puck off the end-wall to Greene, who found a wide-open Lachance skating to the crease. Lachance one-timed the puck over Fowler's left shoulder for his eighth goal of the season.
• Stevens continued to build that momentum with his strike just 3:39 into the second stanza. Stevens, Tuch and Peterson combined to win a battle below the goal line, with Peterson eventually getting the puck to Tuch. Tuch fought off two Eagle defenders behind the net before backhanding the puck to Stevens for a one-timer at the bottom of the right circle.
• The Terriers outshout the Eagles, 14-6, in the middle frame but Cutter Gauthier's goal at the 14:12 mark made it a 3-2 contest entering the final 20 minutes.
• Peterson nearly tied the game on a 2-on-1, but Fowler made a save and the Eagles quickly transitioned from defense to offense, with Will Smith scoring on the ensuing rush to make it 4-2 with 6:15 to play.
• BU pulled Caron in favor of an extra attacker with 2:32 to go and the Terriers took advantage when Celebrini's shot from the top of the zone got through traffic and past Fowler.
• The Terriers once again got a sixth skater on the ice with 1:43 to play, but the Eagles blocked a pair of shots and Fowler made two saves, including one at the buzzer, to seal the win.

GAME NOTES

• The Terriers' streak of 25 straight successful penalty kills came to an end with the Eagles' opening goal of the game.
• However, BU has not allowed a 5-on-4 power-play goal since Nov. 25 against Cornell.
• The 17-year-old Celebrini leads all NCAA rookies with 17 goals.
• This was the Terriers' first regulation loss at home since Nov. 18, 2022, a 2-0 defeat to Northeastern.
• BU went 1-for-6 on the man advantage while BC was 1-of-4 on the power play.
• Tuch and Celebrini have both notched at least one point in seven of their last eight games.
• Stevens has scored five goals over his last eight appearances.

UP NEXT

• BU will have a quick turnaround as the Terriers travel to crosstown rival Northeastern on Tuesday night.
• Puck drop on ESPNU is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.