BU powers up to beat Michigan

It was a matchup between two storied college hockey programs and it marked the first time Michigan had played in Agganis Arena. In fact, it was the first time Boston University hosted the Wolverines since the 1991 NCAA Tournament quarterfinals.

But as special as the meetings have been over the years, last night's was one-sided, in the Terriers' favor. BU throttled fifth-ranked Michigan, 7-2, in front of 6,400, the arena's biggest crowd ever, and it tied the most goals the Terriers have scored at Agganis.

The winning goal, one of five BU scored on the power play, was scored by senior right wing Jason Lawrence, who was 4 years old the last time the Wolverines came to town. Sixth-ranked BU finishes the month 4-1-0, a far cry from its 0-4-1 record from a year ago.

"I thought we were moving the puck well as a team," said Lawrence. "The power play especially, it was stick-to-stick passes. It worked out for us. The place was rocking tonight."

Lawrence said it's been a much better atmosphere surrounding the team than a year ago when the Terriers were struggling. This season, they've beaten nonconference opponents North Dakota, Michigan State, and now Michigan.

"When we saw the schedule, we knew how important it was," he said. "Last year, we lost a couple of nonconference games and it really came to back to hurt us when it came NCAA time. So going into preseason, we really focused on getting ready to play the first game and getting things going and not getting off to a slow start like last year."

The Terriers led, 2-0, after one period, and both tallies marked the first collegiate goals for the scorers.

Freshman left wing Kevin Gilroy got BU on the board at 15:01 at even strength. Sophomore center Nick Bonino took the initial shot from the far edge of the left circle, which Billy Sauer saved, but the rebound bounced out to Gilroy, who tapped it into the net.

With 1:11 remaining in the period and BU on the power play, freshman center Chris Connolly made a terrific play on the second goal. Michigan defenseman Eric Elmblad turned over the puck deep in the Wolverines' zone and Connolly, coming from behind the net, swooped out and grabbed the puck near the left post, scoring on a backhanded wraparound from the top of the crease.

At 6:52 of the second, just 20 seconds into a interference penalty to Michigan defenseman Chris Summers, Lawrence turned a pass from sophomore center Colin Wilson into the third BU goal. Wilson, skating through the left circle, sent the puck in front for Lawrence, who banged it past Sauer for his third goal of the season.

The Wolverines' woes continued as penalties also led to BU's fourth goal. With the teams skating four a side, Michigan left wing Carl Hagelin was whistled off for hooking at 16:57, giving BU a four-on-three advantage. At 17:20, sophomore defenseman Colby Cohen fired a shot from the left circle that beat Sauer to the top right corner for a 4-0 lead.

At the end of the period, Wolverines coach Red Berenson replaced Sauer with sophomore Bryan Hogan.

Michigan (4-2-0) cut the deficit to three with a power-play tally at 1:27 of the final period, freshman center Robbie Czarnik scoring his first college goal by beating freshman netminder Kieran Millan. But BU came back with one on the man-advantage. Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, positioned at the left point, dished the puck down to Lawrence outside the right post and Lawrence rapped it past Hogan to restore the four-goal lead.

BU poured it on at 12:52 with an even-strength goal by Bonino, who scored from the right circle on a pass from freshman defenseman David Warsofsky. Michigan's second goal, by center Louie Caporusso, came with 3:17 left, and BU closed it out with defenseman Brian Strait's power-play goal at 17:32.

With 21.5 seconds remaining, chippiness resulted in a multitude of penalties on both sides, with BU's Vinny Saponari and Michigan's Brian Lebler being tossed for fighting.

"It was a good game for their team and not a good game for our team," said Berenson. "We have to learn from it. Welcome to Boston."

Nancy Marrapese-Burrell can be reached at marrapese@globe.com.