BOSTON — In a game that the final tally only partially told the story of, the Northeastern Huskies rode third-line effectiveness and a timely offensive push past crosstown rival Boston University, earning a 5–2 victory in a matchup where BU never quit but Northeastern ultimately pulled away.
From the opening puck drop at Walter Brown Arena, the Terriers pressed the Huskies, and the scoreboard reflected that early urgency. BU’s forecheck dictated much of the first half of the contest, forcing Northeastern out of its comfort zone until the Huskies finally seized control with an opening strike at 11:57 in the first. It was junior forward Allie Lalonde who netted the game’s first goal after a relentless effort, driving into the offensive zone and firing an open lane shot right past BU netminder Mari Pietersen.
Northeastern had momentum but played on their backfoot for most of the opening frame. That was until Northeastern’s second goal was slammed home by senior forward Mia Langlois. The puck found Langlois’s stick off a rebound and she was able to sound the siren through the traffic of a crowded crease. A 2–0 lead created by a thriving third-line might have suggested Huskies dominance, but the narrative on the ice suggested a much closer match.
Early in the second, BU clawed back with an upper deck shot from senior winger Clara Yuhn, showcasing the Terriers’ resilience and breathing some sign of life into their offense. But the Huskies responded before the period expired, as senior forward Lily Brazis tucked home the team’s third goal, finding the five-hole and reinvigorating Northeastern’s attack.
The third period saw BU refuse to wilt. Less than a minute after NU had extended its lead to three off a whizzing Constantinople shot from the Hockey East logo, the Terriers struck again. Freshman forward Anežka Čabelová finished a well-executed rush to put Boston University within striking distance at 4–2.
Unfortunately, partway through the third, Northeastern forward Éloïse Caron took a rough spill battling for a puck along the corner boards and was nearly carried off the ice due to injury. No updates on her could be provided post-game, although she was spotted in a boot and on crutches.
With time winding down and BU’s net empty, freshman sensation Stryker Zablocki sealed the game with an empty-net goal on a breakaway, giving the Huskies an unassailable three-goal cushion.
While the final score reflected a comfortable margin, this was no runaway affair. BU’s persistent pressure and crucial goals kept Northeastern on its heels at stretches, forcing the Huskies into some rough patches throughout this bout. In the absence of a top-line skater in Caron, Northeastern’s depth, particularly the chemistry of its third line, proved decisive.
“Hopefully when playoffs come, we’re a little cleaner than we were tonight,” said associate head coach Nick Carpenito. “We always press and press and press from the initial puck drop until the end of the period and I think we are getting rewarded for that.”
“We’re finding chemistry, especially getting to the end of our season here; just trying to make every game count,” Lalonde said about her and her teammate’s mentality with playoffs in sight. “We’re battling some adversity right now, but it’s not stopping us. We are still finding ways to put the puck in the net.”
The Huskies look to keep spirits high in their last few games, returning to the ice at Bentley Arena to host the Boston College Eagles on Sunday. You can catch the call on WRBB Sports+ with Daisy Roberts, Mike Kaminsky, and Elli Einset taking you through the game when puck drops at 3:30 pm.
Michael Kaminsky is a sophomore at Northeastern in his first year with WRBB. He is thrilled to be a part of the broadcast team, and is eager to cover many games across Northeastern’s various athletic programs. You can read more of his coverage with WRBB here.