BOSTON — No. 10 Boston University’s recent habit of falling behind in games finally caught up to them tonight.
After an improbable three-game unbeaten streak in which the Terriers trailed going into the third period, and one night after rallying from a 2-0 deficit to beat No. 12 Michigan, BU dug a hole too deep to climb out of in today’s rematch with the Wolverines.
Four different forwards lit the lamp for Michigan, and defenseman Michael Downing notched a pair of power-play assists as the Wolverines stormed to a 3-0 first-period lead and never looked back, beating BU 4-2 in front of 5,003 at Agganis Arena
Steve Racine stopped 19 of 21 shots for the win, while BU goalie Connor LaCouvee made 35 saves in a valiant losing effort.
After playing two strong periods before getting stunned by three third-period goals last night, the Wolverines turned the table with a trio of goals in the first frame. It was Michigan’s first win in Agganis Arena after losing in their first four visits to the building.
“I thought our team played better tonight for three periods than we did last night,” Michigan coach Red Berenson said. “The power play was a factor, and getting the lead was a factor. I think the start of game was important for us to bounce back. I think we played with more purpose and desperation.”
For BU coach David Quinn, he was left to scratch his head over the fact that his team played one great period in two games against a brand-name, ranked opponent
“I don’t want to take anything away from Michigan,” Quinn said. “They’re big, strong, fast [and] their forwards keep you on their heels. They were the better team on the weekend, no question. It was disappointing because over the last three weekends, I think we’ve done a good job of doing the things we need to do to get better and have success, and we obviously took a big step this weekend.
“I’m not just saying this because it’s ‘coach speak,’ but when you play that way for two straight games, and a lot of good players don’t play well – they’re not energetic, or they’re not fast thinking or physically playing fast – you’ve got to think as a coach, ‘what happened?’
Things looked promising in the first three minutes for BU when Danny O’Regan grabbed a turnover and nearly potted a shorthanded goal. But a minute later, Michigan scored on the same power play. J.T. Compher teed up a one-time slap shot from the point by Downing, and Tyler Motte redirected it in.
BU senior Ahti Oksanen hit what must have been his 12th post of the season at 4:08, and things only went downhill from there. At 8:08, Tony Calderone’s nifty cross-ice pass in the neutral zone set up Brendan Warren streaking in on the right-wing side to beat LaCouvee.
At that point, the shots were 10-1 Michigan.
Michigan got what proved to be the backbreaker at 17:07 on another power play when Alex Kile buried the rebound off another Downing shot from the point.
The game was frankly uneventful from that point onBU showed signs of life late in the second period, culminating in Oksanen springing Matt Lane with a beautiful long pass that led to a goal.
BU looked like they might be adding injury to insult in the third, when captain Matt Grzelcyk had to be helped off the ice. After offseason knee surgery, the immediate question was whether he had reinjured his right ACL.
At the press conference, Quinn had doubly good news: It was the left knee this time, and the Terrier captain may even be back for Tuesday’s game against Bentley.
Michigan got its final goal at 16:32 when Kyle Connor made a great effort to beat a BU defender to a puck, sweeping it ahead to Max Shuart for the finish. Then with about five seconds left, O’Regan set up Oksanen for a nice goal, but that was a moot point by then.
“I told them after the game that I feel a big responsibility for what happened this weekend,” Quinn said. “When you’re that lethargic and not energetic to play Michigan in your building for two straight games, as a coach, you have to look in the mirror, and I’m looking long and hard.”
