{"id":146312,"date":"2024-03-22T22:29:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-23T03:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/?p=146312"},"modified":"2024-03-22T22:31:03","modified_gmt":"2024-03-23T03:31:03","slug":"second-ranked-boston-university-beats-no-7-maine-will-play-no-1-boston-college-in-hockey-east-title-tilt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/2024\/03\/22\/second-ranked-boston-university-beats-no-7-maine-will-play-no-1-boston-college-in-hockey-east-title-tilt\/","title":{"rendered":"Second-ranked Boston University beats No. 7 Maine, will play No. 1 Boston College in Hockey East title tilt"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Lane Hutson scored for BU in the Terriers’ win over Maine Friday night (photo: Matt Woolverton).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

BOSTON \u2014<\/strong> An efficient attack and a steady goaltender were enough for Boston University on Friday night, and as a result the Hockey East championship game will be the matchup (most) fans wanted.<\/p>\n

BU \u2014 the No. 2 tournament seed and second in the USCHO.com D-I men’s poll \u2014 scored a goal in each period (plus an empty-netter in the final seconds) and goalie Mathieu Caron stopped 33 shots for a 4-1 win over No. 3 Maine (No. 7 in the USCHO.com poll) in the Hockey East semifinals Friday night at TD Garden.<\/p>\n

“At the end of the day our power play was pretty good,” BU coach Jay Pandolfo said. “And our goaltender was excellent. At the end, we hung on there and did a good job of not giving them too many quality chances. And when they had them, Caron was excellent.”<\/p>\n

BU’s win sets up a 1-vs.-2 showdown for the Lou Lamoriello Trophy, with the Terriers set to face crosstown rival Boston College (top tournament seed and No. 1 in the USCHO.com poll) on Saturday night (7 p.m., NESN and ESPN-plus).<\/p>\n

It will be the fourth meeting of the season between the two schools and third as the nation’s top two teams. BC has won two of three previous meetings this season.<\/p>\n

“I’m sure it’s going to be, obviously, a crazy atmosphere like it always is,” said BU’s Ryan Greene, who scored twice Friday night. “We’re going to be ready. It’s always exciting playing those guys. And playing in the Hockey East championship makes it even more special.”<\/p>\n

Lane Hutson’s goal at 9:21 of the second period put the Terriers up 2-0 and proved to be the game winner. On the power play, Macklin Celebrini fed Hutson, who made a nifty move on Maine’s Thomas Freel and skated into the left circle to throw a wrister past Black Bears goalie Albin Boija (14 saves). BU led 2-0 after two.<\/p>\n

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Great work by Chancer and Mack to set up Greener's second goal of the night!<\/p>\n

Watch on ESPN+: https:\/\/t.co\/dCzHyYuaG7<\/a> @hockey_east<\/a> | @NESN<\/a> | @espn<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/qRzznzv1nT<\/a><\/p>\n

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) March 23, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n