Game 20 Recap: BU 2, Providence 4

In a game that showed hard work does count out on the ice, Providence defeated BU by a score of 4-2 at Agganis Arena.  Matt Bergland was the number 1 star of the game, notching two goals.  Grant Rollheiser would absorb the loss for the Terriers, giving up 4 goals on 25 shots.Despite how it looks on the stat sheet, Rollheiser played a decent game, and was hung out to dry by his defense on more than one occassion.  The loss cannot fully fall on his shoulders, as the team does not seem to play as well defensively in front of him.

Providence would hit the score sheet first, as Chris Eppich would take a feed from Matt Taomorina and get a breakaway on Rollheiser, ringing his shot in off a post.  It wouldn’t be the only time Rollheiser would face a breakaway, and the goal differential could have actually been higher had he not made some spectacular saves.  Brandon Yip would tie the game up on the power play, putting it in top shelf on Alex Beaudry, with assists going to Chris Higgins and Colin Wilson.

BU would come out firing in the second, but it would be the Friars that would light the lamp in the second.  Matt Bergland would slip in his first of the game when a tired BU unit was not able to get off the ice after icing the puck a few times.  The puck would find itself under Rollie’s leg, where Bergland would find it and sweep it in.  Bergland would add his second on the 5 v 3, with penalties on Luke Popko and Eric Gryba.  Despite outshooting PC 12-8 in the period, the Terriers could not solve Beaudry.

That would change in the third, as a couple of late Friar penalties would give BU the 5 v 3 for an extended period of time.  Chris Higgins would cash in quickly off a nice feed from Colin Wilson, just 21 seconds into the third.  Unfortunately for BU, that would be the last time they would find the back of the net.  A slip and fall from Colby Cohen gave the puck to Ian O’ Connor fairly late into the period, who walked in on Rollie and beat him stick side.  The Terriers would pull Rollheiser with about 2 minutes left in favor of the extra attacker, but a breakaway by the Friars combined with a hooking penalty to Kevin Shattenkirk would effectively end the game with a little over a minute left.

Other Recaps Available: Hockey East Online - Includes some audio clips!

The Good

• There was a lot of solid play.  Chris Higgins, Colin Wilson, Nick Bonino, and Brandon Yip played quite well tonight.
• The power play did a decent job, converting on 2 out of 6 opportunities.  Lots of good passing and finding open lanes to shoot.

The Bad

• Providence outhustled the Terriers tonight.
• Matt Bergland was allowed to make his moves all night, something I mentioned might be a problem in the game preview.
• Colby Cohen’s giveaway in the third…..
• Overall team defense in front of Grant Rollheiser… is it a confidence issue?
• Joe Pereria’s energy was missed tonight.  Kevin Gilroy just wasn’t an effective replacement tonight.

It should be a learning experience for BU, as the obviously more talented team did not prevail tonight.  Providence played solid hockey, forechecked hard, and kept BU on their heels all night, never relinquishing the lead.  Thinking that they will walk over weaker teams is not the mentality this team needs, as Merrimack provides another one of these games on Friday.  BU will need some good momentum going into Saturday’s tilt against Boston College.

More Game Photos available on my Flickr Page.

BU is next in action at Lawler Arena against Merrimack on Friday night.  Game time is scheduled for 7pm.

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