BOSTON — As the final horn sounded on Northeastern’s hard-fought 3-1 loss to No. 9 Boston University on Saturday night, the Huskies left the ice with a mix of frustration and determination. On the one hand, they had pushed one of the nation’s best teams to the brink, but on the other hand, they’d ultimately failed to secure a weekend sweep.
“Obviously a pretty emotional game,” said Northeastern head coach Jerry Keefe. “It’s a rival, big game for both teams, and disappointed that we didn’t find a way there. I liked how we came back to get it to 1-1 in the third.”
After a tightly contested opening period that saw both teams battling for momentum, the Terriers struck first with a goal from Tristan Amonte.
The Huskies bench was irate following the goal, as they believed defenseman Jake Boltmann was tripped in the sequence leading up to the score.
Even after the final whistle sounded and the handshake line concluded roughly two hours later, Keefe screamed repeatedly at officials Walker Holton and Steven Rouilliard over the call — resulting in his second game misconduct charge in the past three games.
“That was disappointing. I’ll leave it at that. That was really disappointing,” Keefe said of the first-period no call.
Despite Northeastern’s attempts at aggressive play and several quality scoring chances, they ended the first period trailing 1-0, struggling to overcome an early deficit — a recurring theme for the Huskies this season.
The second period was a goaltending showcase, with Northeastern goaltender Cameron Whitehead making a series of crucial saves to keep his team within striking distance..
The Huskies found themselves on the power play after BU’s Shane Lachance was sent to the box for boarding, presenting a golden opportunity to even the score. However, despite scoring twice on the power play on Friday, the Huskies could not capitalize despite sustaining pressure in front of BU freshman goaltender Mikhail Yegorov.
As the middle frame wore on, the game turned even more physical. Tensions flared between Joaquim Lemay and BU’s Devin Kaplan, while Cole Eiserman and Cam Lund exchanged shoves in front of the net. Despite the Huskies’ energy, their defensive lapses allowed BU to control much of the possession , with Whitehead standing tall to turn away multiple high-danger shots, including a flurry of wrist shots from Quinn Hutson.
“Whitehead played well. He gave us a chance both nights, obviously. So I was happy with Whitey,” said Keefe.
Then came the third period, where Northeastern finally broke through. Lemay delivered a highlight-reel goal at 5:53, weaving through three BU defenseman and firing a shot past Yegorov to tie the game at 1-1. The Huskies’ bench erupted, sensing a potential shift in momentum.
But their excitement was short-lived.
Less than a minute later, BU responded with a goal from Cole Hutson, assisted by Quinn Hutson, reclaiming the lead and sucking the air out of Northeastern’s resurgence. Despite earning another power-play opportunity minutes later, the Huskies struggled to generate consistent offense, a recurring issue that plagued them throughout the night.
With time winding down, desperation set in. Whitehead continued to battle, keeping Northeastern within striking distance, but a costly slashing penalty on Dylan Hryckowian with just under two minutes remaining all but sealed their fate. Lachance wrapped the game up with an empty-netter, handing BU the 3-1 victory and leaving the Huskies searching for answers.
For Northeastern, the loss was another reminder of how close they are to breaking through—but also how far they still have to go. Their ability to compete with a top team like BU is a good sign as the Hockey East tournament nears, yet their inability to convert late in close games once again proved to be their undoing.
With the end of the season looming, the Huskies must find a way to turn these close battles into statement wins. Friday’s loss showed glimpses of their potential—but small victories won’t be enough as the season winds down.
Northeastern will be back in action on Friday when they travel to Storrs to face UConn. Amelia Ballingall, Matty Wasserman, and Chase Alexander will be on your call with puck drop set for 7 p.m.