Newly positioned forward Josh Burrows scored the game-winner in the third period as the Vermont Catamounts edged out the Boston University Terriers, 3-2, on Sunday in Hockey East action at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
The victory came after a decisive 7-3 romping that the Catamounts delivered to the Terriers on Friday.
Along with Burrows, senior Brayden Irwin and senior Colin Vock scored for Vermont while junior Colby Cohen and senior Luke Popko scored for Boston University.
“I’m just so pleased for our guys right now, obviously just an unbelievable weekend of effort,” Vermont coach Kevin Sneddon said. “Four games in a row where I think we’re seeing the signs of a team and family coming together.”
“I like the way my team played tonight an awful lot,” Boston University coach Jack Parker said. “I thought we played hard, I thought we played pretty smart for the most part. We didn’t get what we wanted to get out of the game as far as the ‘W,’ but we were back on track as far as the way we’re supposed to be playing hockey.”
The Terriers started attacking the Vermont net early in the game, but sophomore goaltender Rob Madore came up with some key saves on shots taken close to the crease.
The Terriers found a way to get past Madore soon after though, and took the 1-0 at 8:08. Madore was in position to make another save, but Cohen took a slap shot from the left circle and it bounced off Madore’s leg and into the net.
Vermont came back to tie soon after at 9:55. When Boston University sophomore Kevin Gilroy went to the penalty box for boarding, the Catamounts took advantage of the opportunity. Sophomore Drew MacKenzie passed the puck to Irwin, who fired a wrister past sophomore goalie Kieran Millan from just above the right circle. This was the 14th goal of the year for Irwin.
Boston University took back the lead again at 13:37. Popko picked up the puck near the slot and shot a quick wrister past Madore.
Vermont took advantage of another power-play opportunity in the second period and came back to tie the game again at 11:50. MacKenzie fed the puck to Vock who shot a one-timer from in front of the net to even the score at two.
During matching roughing penalties in the third for Vermont senior Patrick Cullity and Boston University junior Joe Pereira, the puck came dangerously loose in front of Millan. Vermont players tried to take advantage, but couldn’t get the puck to cross the line.
This left the scoring up to Burrows just as the third period was beginning to wind down at 16:18. Burrows picked up the puck off a pass from freshman David Pacan and propelled it into the back corner of the net, giving the lead back to the Catamounts.
Along with Burrows’s goal, Sneddon was also pleased with the pass from Pacan to set it up.
“Just a real special play, through the legs, a freshman,” Sneddon said. “Four minutes to go in what we’ve termed as a very, very important, playoff-style game and he makes that kind of a play to Josh Burrows. Just all in all we made probably one more special play than they did to win the game.”
The Terriers pulled Millan from the net for an extra skater as time drained from the clock. It was too late to make a difference though and the Catamounts held on to the lead, securing the victory.
“I still thought we played pretty well in the third but they got the only goal,” Parker said.
