BOSTON - Sophomore Cole Hutson scored the game-winner and added an assist while classmate Cole Eiserman netted two goals as the No. 2 Boston University men's ice hockey team defeated LIU, 4-2, in Saturday's season opener at Agganis Arena.

Eiserman led BU (1-0-0) with 25 goals last season as a freshman and wasted no time getting on the score sheet against LIU (0-1-0), striking on the power play just 5:54 into the proceedings. Sophomore transfer Sacha Boisvert then scored a power-play goal of his own to break a 1-1 tie with 3:20 remaining in the second period. 

All four Terrier goals were scored by underclassmen, as Hutson added to BU's lead at 7:11 of the third and Eiserman scored his second of the night at 15:22. In addition to his goal, Boisvert added an assist on Hutson's game-winner. Senior Owen McLaughlin, who joined Boisvert as a transfer from North Dakota, and freshman Ryder Ritchie recorded two assists apiece in their first game in a BU sweater. Freshman John McNelis also collected his first collegiate assist.

Sophomore goaltender Mikhail Yegorov put up a strong performance between the pipes, making 36 saves in his first collegiate opener after joining the Terriers midway through last season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• BU's special teams went to work in the first period, killing off an early minor penalty before heading to a man advantage of its own.
• On the power play, Eiserman needed only four seconds to light the lamp. Following a clean faceoff win by McLaughlin and a cross-ice pass from Hutson, Eiserman one-timed the puck past Daniel Duris (28 saves) to give the Terriers a 1-0 lead.
• BU killed off all three penalties it took during the opening frame en route to a perfect 5-for-5 night. 
• In net, Yegorov stopped all 13 shots he faced in the first period, including four on the PK. 
• The Sharks tied the game, 1-1, at 2:30 of the second period.
• Junior captain Gavin McCarthy kept the game tied midway through the second when he backchecked to cleanly break up a 2-on-1 opportunity at 9:42 of the middle frame.
• Freshman Jonathan Morello crashed the net at 13:37 for a scoring chance off of McLaughlin's saucer pass but was denied.
• BU's top power-play unit struck again to breathe life back into the home team at 16:40. McLaughlin set up Ritchie in the slot for an attempt that was stopped, but Boisvert stuffed home the rebound attempt to restore the Terriers' lead.
• Morello nearly extended the BU lead early in the third period, but his backhander in front of the net rang off the left post.
• Hutson tallied the Terriers' third goal at 7:08 of the final frame. Boisvert circled the perimeter of the offensive zone before finding Hutson below the right circle. The assistant captain took his time closing in on the net, deking an LIU defender before picking the top right corner.
• Eiserman extended BU's lead to 4-2 at 15:22. He carried the puck into the offensive zone before dropping it off to Ritchie, who snuck through two defenders and sent it back to the assistant captain for a tap-in in the blue paint.
• LIU pulled its goalie late in the game during to create a 6-on-4 power play but Yegorov and the Terrier penalty killers held strong to preserve the win.

GAME NOTES

• This marked the first time these two programs faced off against each other; LIU was BU's 78th opponent in 104 seasons of varsity hockey.
• The Terriers have won five straight season openers and improved to 8-2-0 in their last 10 lidlifters.
• Hutson reached 50 points (15g, 35a) in just his 40th game, besting his brother Lane by one contest, as the reigning Calder Trophy winner had 49 points in his first 40 games.
• Eiserman has scored a goal in three straight games dating back to last season.
• In addition to Boisvert and McLaughlin, eight freshmen made their Terrier debuts on Saturday: Carter Amico, Jack Murtagh, McNelis, Ben Merrill, Morello, Ritchie, Charlie Trethewey and Malte Vass.

UP NEXT

• The Terriers will close out their opening weekend by welcoming RPI in an exhibition matchup on Sunday.
• Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m., and fans can purchase tickets by clicking here.