BOSTON – The best team in Hockey East skated off the TD Garden ice Saturday night with the Lamoriello Trophy. Boston University, the regular season champions of the league, captured the tournament crown for the 10th time with a 3-2 overtime victory over Merrimack.
Freshman defenseman Lane Hutson, the best skater in Hockey East, scored his second of the game to clinch the win for the Terriers. The Hockey East Rookie of the Year and Hobey Baker Award Finalist was named the MVP of the tournament.
Merrimack took leads of 1-0 and 2-1, but Boston University rallied twice. The Warriors got the scoring started 6:57 into the first period when Christian Felton redirected a feed from Ben Brar on a shorthanded rush.
The score stayed that way until Boston University was awarded a five-on-three power play at the end of the first period. Hutson scored his first of the night on a one-time shot during the two-man advantage. Merrimack regained the lead with 4:51 left in the second on a goal from Mac Welsher.
The game-tying goal that forced overtime came off the stick of BU winger Devin Kaplan’s stick. It was a second or third-effort play that exemplified Kaplan’s ability to bull his way to scoring areas with his strength and puck protection.
It only took 1:57 of free hockey for Hutson to send the crowd home. He lifted a wrist shot into the upper part of the net after BU won a battle below the goal line and got the puck low to high. Matt Brown and Sam Stevens, a pair of seniors, picked up the assists.
Both goaltenders played well, but Boston University junior Drew Commesso (Norwell, Mass.) earned the win and the All-Tournament team nod. He stopped 23 of 25 shots on the night and 60 of 63 on the weekend.
Here are five takeaways from the game.
1. There’s no doubt that Lane Hutson was the best player on the ice throughout the Hockey East Tournament. The Montreal Canadiens prospect oozed confidence with the puck on his stick, thanks to his skating ability and elite hockey sense. He’s a game-changer for the Terriers as he can break pucks out of his own zone, promote zone entry into the attacking end, and quarterback a power play.
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2. I’ve said this a couple of times in this space this year, but it’s worth reiterating after both senior fourth-liners Jamie Armstrong (Warwick, R.I.) and Stevens picked up assists in the Hockey East championship game. They’re big, strong, and provide a physical presence, even when not finding their way onto the score sheet.
3. Boston University junior center Nick Zabaneh didn’t have a point in either game this weekend after scoring a hat trick in the quarterfinals against Vermont. However, he had a few quality chances and showed off his speed. He’s one of the most improved players on this Terriers team. New head coach Jay Pandolfo and his staff have emphasized skill development. Bringing in assistant coach Kim Brandvold is a testament to that. Kudos to Brandvold and the entire staff for getting the most out of Zabaneh and a number of other BU players this season.
4. Merrimack was called for five penalties for 10 minutes while Boston University was whistled for two penalties equaling four minutes. There were a couple of questionable calls on the Warriors and a blatant trip by a Boston University player went uncalled late in regulation. That left Merrimack head coach Scott Borek rightfully upset.
“Frankly I didn’t think we got treated very well. That was really disappointing. After going through all the games we’ve been through all year, it was very disappointing how that game was managed,” he said of the referees.
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“If those are trips in the first period, you tell me that wasn’t a trip at the end of the third period. That was embarrassing,” added Borek.
5. Boston University and Merrimack now await their NCAA Tournament assignments. The Terriers will be a two-seed and likely are headed to Manchester, N.H., to face Western Michigan of the NCHC. The Warriors will be a four-seed and are likely destined for a first-round matchup against Quinnipiac in the Bridgeport, Conn., regional.
