BOSTON – Sophomore goaltender Michael Hrabal stopped all 32 shots he faced to help University of Massachusetts The men’s hockey team shut out No. 11 Boston University for the first time in program history, 4-0, on Saturday at Agganis Arena.
With the win, the Minutemen improve to 8-6-2 on the season, 2-4-2 in Hockey East play. The Terriers, meanwhile, dropped to 8-6-1 overall and 4-3-1 in league action.
“I’ve been telling our beat writers a lot lately that I like this team,” UMass coach Greg Carvel said. “I know our record is not where it should be. I really like this team. I thought tonight was a great example. To come here and beat a high quality team and beat them like we did .Discipline was a big factor.The power play was a big factor.
“I was telling somebody before the game that I wish we had more power plays because I think our power play is pretty good, and tonight was a big difference. But Michael Hrabal was outstanding. I’m very proud of our guys. We came in here with a game plan and they executed it really well. It’s a solid win.”
UMass opened the scoring at 4:45 of the first period when senior Lucas Mercuri sent a breakout pass to Michael Cameron, who rushed down the ice with Ryan Lautenbach. Cameron’s initial shot was saved by Mathieu Caron, but Lautenbach was there to clear the loose puck at the back post.
The Terriers appeared to have tied the score at one with 11:11 left in the first frame, but after a Minutemen challenge, the on-ice call was overturned for goaltender interference. On the night, five goals were disallowed due to goalie interference, three by UMass and two by BU.
After Boston University’s Brandon Svoboda was ejected for a major for a cross-check late in the second period, the Minutemen capitalized twice on their second five-minute power play of the night. First, Mercuri sent the puck to Francesco Dell’Elce at the point, and he worked to create space along the blue line before feeding freshman Daniel Jencko for a layup at the point facing right at at 5:35 p.m.
Moments later, junior Lucas Ölvestad made it 3-0, redirecting home a pass from Mercuri and Dell’Elce at the far post at 19:14.
UMass capped the scoring with another power-play goal at 9:20 of the third. Junior Kenny Connors picked a corner kick from the top of the slot for his first tally of the season, with sophomore Aydar Suniev and junior Cole O’Hara picking up the assists.
The Minutemen finished the game with a 37-32 advantage in shots on goal and went 3-for-7 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.
Mercuri finished the night with a career-high three assists, while Dell’Elce had two helpers for his third multi-point game of the year.
The teams will return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 11, when they square off at the Mullins Center in a contest that will be broadcast on NESN at 7 p.m.