Merrimack beats Boston University in overtime
Caelan Fitzpatrick scored the game-winner just 20 seconds into the extra period
NORTH ANDOVER — Caelan Fitzpatrick’s overtime goal was the difference in Merrimack’s 2-1 win over Boston University on Friday night at a sold-out Lawler Arena.
Fitzpatrick won the opening faceoff of the overtime. Defenseman Seamus Powell circled behind his net to set up a breakout, and Zach Bookman drove down the left side before feeding Fitzpatrick in front for the game-winner.
“We needed that, but we also earned it,” said Merrimack coach Scott Borek. “We were pretty disappointed with how last weekend went for us. Our guys responded with maybe our best game of the year against a very difficult opponent. It was a big night for us, but again, I thought it was well-earned by our guys.”
Max Lundgren made 24 saves for the Warriors and Nick Pierre scored his third goal of the season in the first period. Powell assisted on both Merrimack goals.
Fitzpatrick finds the net for the game-winner
Fitzpatrick’s overtime goal was his fourth of the season. The freshman from Saskatchewan has appeared in every game for the Warriors this season and is one of three freshmen with at least 10 points (joining Pierre and Caden Cranston).
“[Bookman] made a good play protecting the puck on the wall,” Fitzpatrick said. “He found me in the middle and I was lucky enough that it went in.”
Fitzpatrick not only scored the overtime goal, he also won the opening faceoff of the extra period, allowing the Warriors to begin overtime with possession. BU never touched the puck in overtime.
“He’s so competitive,” Borek said. “He plays the game exactly the right way. He’s really hard to play against. He was big time. He won the opening faceoff in overtime, which was critical, just as critical as scoring the goal. He wanted it.”
Warriors slow down the Terriers in the neutral zone
The Warriors didn’t pressure the Terriers much on the forecheck. For most of the night, the Warriors opted for a neutral-zone setup, where their first forward was stationed in the high slot or the offensive blue line during BU’s controlled breakouts.
“They’re so good in transition, hunting them isn’t the best way to go about the game against them,” Borek said. “We had to make sure that we kept them out of the middle of the rink. We were a lot more patient and I think, for most of the night, they weren’t able to get a lot of middle ice through the neutral zone.”
“Coach said it before the game, we needed to control the middle,” added Pierre. “There were a few hiccups, but we reeled it in.”
Lundgren comes up big between the pipes
Lundgren made 24 saves, including several through traffic. Late in the game he made a save on Jack Harvey that kept the game tied. Harvey tried to move a puck to Devin Kaplan through the middle, but it hit the skate of a Merrimack defender and ended up back on Harvey’s stick. Lundgren began to move across his crease, but was able to adjust at the last second and make the stop with his shoulder.
“That’s a big-time save,” Borek said. “That’s one of the hardest saves to make because with the pass, he started loading his leg. He’s getting ready to get across the crease. For him to be able to stay on that puck was big time.
“He also had a save on Matt [Copponi] in the third period. Matt had the puck and drove wide with speed and I knew exactly what he was going to do, wrapping it behind the net. We saw him score goals like that when he was here. That was another big-time save because Matt gets an awful lot of speed when he tries that and he gets around the net faster than anyone else.”
Pierre stays hot with first-period goal
Nick Pierre leads all Merrimack freshmen with 12 points (3g-9a) in 26 games. Pierre has scored 11 of his 12 points since Dec. 6 (14 games).
“I’m starting to feel more comfortable,” he said. “I think that comes with experience. I’m trusting my ability to play the game. I’m very fortunate that coach has allowed me the chance to play with the guys I’ve played with.”
Borek shuffled lines with Ryan O’Connell out of the lineup. Pierre’s line — with Harrison Roy and Caden Cranston — was the only forward line to remain together.
“I’m really fortunate to play with those guys,” Pierre said. “I’m grateful that coach put me in the situation and trusts my effort. I think keeping us together has helped us gel. We feed off each other really well, and [Cranston] is my roommate, so it’s been awesome.”
Merrimack 2, Boston University 1 (OT)
Boston University (15-10-1): 1-0-0-0--1
Merrimack College (11-15-1): 1-0-0-1--2
First Period: 1. BU Jack Harvey 8 (Cole Hutson, Quinn Hutson), ev, 13:24; 2. MC Nick Pierre 3 (Caden Cranston, Seamus Powell), pp, 17:33.
Second Period: None.
Third Period: None.
Overtime: 3. MC Caelan Fitzpatrick 4 (Zach Bookman, Seamus Powell), 3v3, 0:20.
Shots: MC 10-5-12-1--28; BU 7-11-7-0--25
Saves: MC Lundgren (60:07) 24/25; BU Yegorov (60:20) 26/28
Power Play: MC 1 for 4; BU 0 for 3
Pen-PIM: MC 4-8; BU 5-10
Faceoffs: 28-20 BU
Attendance, 2,701