Boston University’s 11th-ranked Terriers wasted little time gaining the upper hand on the University of Maine Black Bears Saturday night.
Early first-period goals 31 second apart by freshman center Bobo Carpenter and junior defenseman Doyle Somerby sent the Terriers on their way to a comfortable 6-1 Hockey East triumph at Agganis Arena in Boston.
Boston University improved to 13-7-4 overall, 7-4-3 in Hockey East, while Maine fell to 5-15-6 and 2-8-2, respectively.
Maine is now winless in its last six games (0-4-2) and is 1-7-2 over its last 10 games. It is the 14th time Maine has been held to one goal or less.
“It was a poor performance by our team at all positions starting in the back end [goaltending],” said Maine coach Red Gendron. “When we were down 4-0, we had a little bit of a pushback and it looked like we were coming but we couldn’t sustain it.
“BU is very good. Full marks to them. That being said, there’s no excuse for us not playing well,” he added.
BU beat Maine 5-2 on Friday night in Orono.
Carpenter, son of longtime NHL forward Bobby Carpenter, had a pair of goals as did senior center Matt Lane. Lane also had an assist. Danny O’Regan had a goal and Somerby and Lane each had an assist to go with their goals.
Ahti Oksanen and Oskar Andren each had two assists and Sean Maguire made 22 saves.
Cam Brown scored for the second straight game for Maine and Blaine Byron and Billy Norman each had an assist.
Rob McGovern made 18 saves on 22 shots before being replaced by Matt Morris at the 11:57 mark of the second period. Morris finished with 13 saves on 15 shots.
Carpenter opened the scoring 5:02 into the game when he was cruised unattended down the slot and beat McGovern with a snap shot.
Just 31 seconds later, defenseman Somerby carried the puck behind the net before converting a wraparound.
Carpenter expanded the lead at the 3:43 mark of the second period on the power play.
McGovern made a save off Lane’s tip-in attempt off a Charlie McAvoy shot but Carpenter swept home the rebound.
Lane scored at the 11:57 mark with Oksanen and Jordan Greenway notching assists and that ended McGovern’s night.
Brown gave the Black Bears a glimmer of hope just 47 seconds later with a shot from the circle but O’Regan answered 3:42 later and Lane capped the scoring in the third period.
“Everyone was pretty frustrated after the game, to be honest,” said Maine senior defenseman Conor Riley. “Obviously, BU is a real good team. They have a lot of high-end skill, they move the puck well and they play their systems well. But we can’t show up with that kind of effort and lose the way we did tonight.”
Riley said the two early goals hurt them.
“It’s never good, especially on the road, to give up two quick ones back-to-back. It gets the crowd into it and it’s tough to get the momentum back,” said alternate captain Riley, who downplayed the fact it was Maine’s fifth game in nine days.
“We can’t use that as an excuse. You’ve got to dig deeper and come out with more energy,” he added.
Maine will travel to UMass for a pair next weekend.