BOSTON, Mass. ? Boston University sophomore forward Nick Bonino scored twice and added an assist to lift the ninth-ranked Terriers to a 5-1 victory over the fifth-ranked Fighting Sioux tonight at the Ice Breaker Invitational at Agganis Arena, the season opener for both teams.
Bonino's first goal put BU up 3-1 and capped a wild opening minute of the second period, a flurry that saw three goals scored in a 38-second span and shifted the game's momentum in favor of the Terriers.
The Sioux had entered the period trailing 1-0 but were able to pull even just 21 seconds in when senior forward Brad Miller (Alpharetta, Ga.) banged home a Joe Finley (Sr., Edina, Minn.) rebound, seemingly giving the Sioux life.
But the Terriers immediately regained control of the game with goals 21 seconds apart. First, senior winger Jason Lawrence cleaned up a Colin Wilson rebound to grab the lead back just 17 seconds after Miller had tied the game. Then only 21 seconds later, Bonino converted a Brandon Yip centering feed to give the Terriers a two-goal cushion.
BU would cruise the rest of the way, out-shooting the Sioux 26-16 over the final two periods and 33-23 for the game. The Terriers also killed all eight UND power play opportunities.
According to UND head coach Dave Hakstol, BU's ability to rebound from Miller's goal early in the second period was the story of the game.
“We got a goal early and they got two awfully quick,” said Hakstol. “That tells me that mentally we weren't where we need to be.”
“We played quite a good hockey team tonight,” added Hakstol. “They played good, strong team defense, they won more one-on-one battles and they finished their opportunities.
Bonino would close the scoring with his second goal at 9:44 of the third period, firing a shot from below the faceoff circle and catching Eidsness leaning off the near post.
The Terriers also got goals from sophomore defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and sophomore forward Colin Wilson. Wilson also added an assist while Shattenkirk was one of four Terriers with a +3 plus/minus rating.
BU freshman Kieran Millan, making his first collegiate start in goal, stopped 22 of 23 shots to earn the win.
UND freshman Brad Eidsness (Chestermere, Alberta), also making his first collegiate start, finished with 28 saves. His best save came midway through the third period when he snatched a Matt Watkins (Sr., Aylesbury, Saskatchewan) wrist shot from low in the slot to preserve the three-goal lead.
A bright spot for the Sioux was the play of their penalty killers, who managed to hold BU off the board in six power play attempts.
UND will return to action tomorrow afternoon against Massachusetts, which lost 3-1 to Michigan State earlier today. The puck drops at 3:30 Eastern, but the quick turnaround doesn't concern Hakstol.
“If you're a competitor,” said Hakstol. “You'll show up and play tomorrow."
Notes: The announced attendance was 3,753 ... The loss was UND's first in a season opener since opening the 2001-02 season with a 7-5 setback to Minnesota, the first game played in the new Ralph Engelstad Arena ... BU's five goals were the most allowed by the Sioux in a regular season road game since an 8-5 win at Minnesota State on Oct. 28, 2006 ... In addition to Eidsness, freshmen Jason Gregoire (Winnipeg, Manitoba), Brett Hextall (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) and Ben Blood (Plymouth, Minn.) also played in their first collegiate game.
