BOSTON — For the first time all season, Merrimack College saw a two-goal lead against a Hockey East opponent slip away, and it couldn't have come at a worse time as the Warriors allowed three unanswered goals in a 3-2 loss to Boston University in game 1 of the Hockey East quarterfinals.
The teams will play again today in a do-or-die situation for the Warriors at 7 p.m.
The opening 30 minutes didn't go as the Warriors would have drawn it up, but regardless, they were midway through their first playoff game in six seasons with a 2-0 lead over the defending national champions.
Then, in an instant, the wheels fell off.
In a span of just 1:55 seconds in the second period, BU erased Merrimack's lead and 6:11 into the third period pulled ahead for the first time in the game.
The Warriors' bread and butter, the power play, struggled, going 0 for 6.
"We couldn't win an offensive-zone face-off," said Merrimack head coach Mark Dennehy. "We need to do a better job winning battles. We weren't prepared for that hand-to-hand combat.
"We had more chances on the last two power plays — we had five shots — and they turned it over a few times that led to some confusion."
Midway through the third period, the Warriors (15-18-2) had just 17 shots on net before putting 11 pucks on BU netminder Kieran Millan in the last 10 minutes.
"This is not your father's Merrimack hockey team," said BU head coach Jack Parker, whose team improved to 17-15-2. "This is a very good Merrimack team. They have the third best power play in the nation, second best in the league, and we didn't do a good job staying out of the box and we're fortunate to not give up any power play goals."
Joe Cannata made 38 stops for the Warriors, who fell for the 10th consecutive time at Agganis Arena. The Warriors, who are faced with winning two games in a row against the Terriers on the road if they want their season to continue, have never won in this building.
"Joe played well," Dennehy said. "He's playing the way we knew he was capable of being when we recruited him.
"The building crew here thinks there will only be one more game left, at least that's what they said when I walked by. But there is a Merrimack team that doesn't believe that."
Boston University 3, Merrimack 2
at Agganis Arena, Boston University
Game 1 Hockey East Quarterfinals
Merrimack College (15-18-2):1-1-0—2
Boston University (17-15-3):0-2-1—3
First Period: 1. MC Pat Kimball 1 (Matt Moulakelis, Adam Ross), 8:44.
Second Period: 2. MC Jeff Velleca 8 (Chris Barton), 6:14; 3. BU David Warsofsky 12 (Zach Cohen), 10:10; 4. BU Vinny Saponari 10 (Nick Bonino, David warsofsky), 12:05.
Third Period: 5. BU Vinny Saponari 11 (unassisted), 4:11.
Shots: Merrimack 11-4-13—28; Boston U 16-16-9—41
Saves: MC Cannata 16-14-8—38; BU Millan 10-3-13—26
Power play: Merrimack 0 for 6; Boston U 0 for 3
Attendance: 3,508
Next: Game 2 today, 7 p.m.
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