Results have not been going Boston University’s way recently. But the Terriers displayed resiliency in rallying from two two-goal deficits for a 4-4 tie with New Hampshire in a Hockey East game Friday night at Agganis Arena.
The Terriers (19-9-3, 11-5-3 Hockey East) squandered another chance to close the gap on first place in the league, remaining 3 points behind Boston College. And BU also appeared to be suffering from a sort of Beanpot hangover as it fell behind by two goals in the opening period against the Wildcats.
“Seemed like what happened Monday night [6-3 loss to Harvard] was carrying over,’’ BU coach David Quinn said. “There wasn’t a lot of passion and enthusiasm. Second period, we started playing well [but] give up two goals that just looked too easy.
“To come out with the fight, grit and determination we did in the third period — really, really proud of our team. We’ve got a lot of fight left in us.’’
The Wildcats (12-14-5, 7-8-4) opened the scoring on Michael McNicholas’s one-timer from the right circle at 3:07.
UNH, 1-6-3 in 10 games since Jan. 12, took a 2-0 lead at 11:42, Ara Nazarian taking possession from Brien Diffley behind the net and finishing from near the crease on the right.
“After the first period, we dusted ourselves off and said let’s just go play,’’ Quinn said. “The thing I liked was we got more pucks on net — a lot more hectic play in the offensive zone than there has been for us. If we’re going to have success, we’re going to have to create more offense in the offensive zone, obviously. I thought tonight was a good start.’’
The Terriers, who will take a season-longest three-game winless streak to UNH for a rematch Saturday night, recovered in the second period.
Jordan Greenway cut the deficit with a finish from the edge of the left circle off a Charlie McAvoy feed at 6:17. Bobo Carpenter equalized on a power play from in front at 9:11, with eight seconds remaining on the penalty.
UNH junior Dylan Chanter broke the deadlock with a shot past Jake Oettinger’s glove at 11:00, his first collegiate goal in 41 games. Tyler Kelleher converted a second-chance opportunity from the left dot for a 4-2 UNH lead at 19:20, his 19th goal of the season.
Quinn had adjusted the BU lines, defenseman Doyle Somerby moving to left wing on the fourth line, Brandon Hickey (right leg) missing the contest. By the final period, though, Somerby was back on defense.
“This is a funny game,’’ Quinn said. “These guys are kids and teenagers and their psyche is fragile. And the first goal goes in and, poof, we look like someone shot our dog. And the body language, lack of enthusiasm, lack of passion, was evident. We looked like a team trying to find its way.
“And we get out of the first period, and we talked about let’s play with passion and enthusiasm, have good body language, be positive, and that gets contagious. We had some great chances and I thought we had some chances to get on the power play – apparently I saw things differently.’’
McAvoy scored from the point 20 seconds into the final period to pull BU within 4-3. Following a timeout, BU won a faceoff in the left circle, Greenway finding Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson in front for the tying score at 15:36.
“It was a tough loss on Monday and we tried to leave that behind,’’ Forsbacka Karlsson said. “We didn’t come out the best in the first period but it obviously shows a little strength that we can get back in this game and at least get a point. Obviously, it’s going to be two huge points for us [Saturday night’s game]. We’re still trying to catch up to the league lead, so we’ve just got to keep going and build on the second and third period.’’
