For some, missing the playoffs is not an option and Patricia Gagnon showed why.
The freshman forward scored the game-winning goal with five seconds left as Maine (16-7-6, 8-7-4 Hockey East) posted a 2-1 win over Boston University (12-16-4, 6-12-2) on Sunday afternoon in Hockey East play.
Maine’s win accompanied with Connecticut’s 6-0 loss at No. 1 New Hampshire gave the Black Bears a two-point advantage for the last playoff spot heading into their last weekend of the season against Boston College.
In the late stages of the third period, the Terriers came close to garnering another third period win similar to Saturday’s game. But then with five seconds left, Sonia Corriveau fed a pass from the corner to find Gagnon in front of net.
“The shot came in from the blue line and the puck hit Sonia,” Gagnon said. “I did not know there was five seconds left and I just tried to put the shot on net because that is what [coach] asks of us.”
“You really cannot counter something like that because it was their reward for the weekend,” said BU coach Brian Durocher. “Today it looked like a game that was going to head to overtime, but they got their break.”
Maine’s first goal came 7:33 into the opening frame as defenseman Kelly Law scored to give the Black Bears the 1-0 lead. The goal placed her in a tie for second in the program’s history for most points in a season scored by a defenseman
But with just under three minutes to go in the second period, BU’s Genevieve Lang played a pass to Nicky Wiart for a short-handed goal to the game 1-1.
The Terriers piled pressure on Maine in the final minutes. With about 3:30 left, Gina Kearns dangerously deflected a shot from the point on net, and BU also drew a penalty with 2:44 to go.
“I thought we played with adversity today but you have to give credit to BU,” Perron said. “It was a heartbreaker for them and a good win for us.”
BU has just one game left in its inaugural season, and it’s not going to be an easy one. But the Terriers will hope to go out on top.
“Our next game is against UNH so we are going to have a little fir under our sleeves,” Wilcox said. “But that is a good thing and hopefully we can play a good game against them.”
