BU can't finish Maine

Black Bears rally to extend series

BU goalie Kieran Millan hangs his head after being scored upon by Maine in the third period. (Michael Dwyer/Associated Press)

Boston University came into last night one win away from sweeping No. 8 seed Maine in the Hockey East quarterfinals. After a strong performance Friday in a 2-1 loss, the Black Bears were a little down, but coach Tim Whitehead said his team would show up ready to rebound from the disappointment of having nothing to show for outplaying the Terriers.

And rebound it did. The Black Bears (13-21-4) overcame a 3-1 deficit to hand the No. 1 seed and top-ranked team in the nation a 6-3 beating in front of 4,094 at Agganis Arena, forcing a third and deciding game tonight.

The loss ended the Terriers' nation-best unbeaten streak at 17 games (14-0-3). It is just the second loss to an unranked team this season for BU, and just its second loss since Jan. 13. The Black Bears won for the first time at Agganis, where they are 1-6-1.

"Obviously, we're thrilled to earn a Game 3," said Whitehead. "It's going to be a lot of fun and a great challenge. It was great to come back and extend the lead at the end and win it. I was real happy for the guys."

The first period was a wild one, with six goals, the last three of which came in a span of 57 seconds. Maine took the lead 42 seconds into the action. BU defenseman Steve Smolinsky lost the puck to Maine freshman Gustav Nyquist. Nyquist fed a pass to senior center Chris Hahn for the tally.

The next three belonged to BU. At 3:40, Colin Wilson centered a pass for senior right wing Brandon Yip, who was charging the net, and Yip lifted a backhander over freshman netminder Scott Darling (29 saves).

The Terriers' second goal came with the squads skating four a side. Defenseman Matt Gilroy was battling Maine counterpart Josh Van Dyk for the puck in front of the Black Bears' cage. Gilroy got a shot away and it went off junior center Luke Popko and into the net, with Popko being credited with the score at 5:23.

The Terriers' third goal came while they were shorthanded. Senior left wing John McCarthy, who broke up a Maine rush to start the play, took a lead pass from Jason Lawrence and beat Darling on a breakaway with a forehand shot at 11:41.

But instead of folding, the Black Bears rallied with five unanswered goals. They started the comeback with goals 31 seconds apart. At 12:07, Nyquist roofed a backhander from just outside the right post over freshman goalie Kieran Millan (20 saves) to make it 3-2. Sophomore center Keif Orsini then took a shot from the slot and the puck trickled under Millan, went up on edge, and rolled inside the right post. Millan tried diving behind him to keep it out with his glove hand but wasn't in time.

Maine's output marked the first time BU had given up three goals in a period all season.

The Black Bears went back on top midway through the second. With McCarthy in the box for tripping, Simon Danis-Pepin passed to freshman right wing Spencer Abbott in the left circle. Abbott beat Millan on the power play at 10:11, making it 4-3.

Maine boosted its lead to two on another power-play goal. It was Nyquist who roofed another shot over Millan, this time on his forehand, at 6:16 of the third. Maine put an exclamation point on it with yet another score on the man advantage. At 11:04, sophomore left wing Robby Dee beat Millan. The six goals were the most Millan has surrendered this season. It was the fourth man-advantage goal in six tries for the visitors, who finished 4 for 7 overall.

BU, which went 0 for 5 on the power play, had time to respond but didn't.

"I didn't like the way my team played again tonight for different reasons [than Friday]," said BU coach Jack Parker. "The way [Maine] played tonight, they were the much better team. They probably should be going home right now and getting ready for [the Hockey East tournament at] the Garden."

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