Terriers again rule the Beanpot

BOSTON – When it comes to the first two Mondays in February, there is no question that it is Boston University’s time of the year.On Monday night at TD BankNorth Garden, the Terriers once again proved why they have owned the Beanpot Tournament for over a half-century.In a battle of two of the top three ranked teams in the country, Saugus native Jason Lawrence broke a 2-2 tie in the second period with his second game-winning goal of the tournament. David Warsofsky and Colin Wilson then added shorthanded goals in the third period to help the Terriers clinch Beanpot title No. 29 with a 5-2 win over third-ranked Northeastern.”Growing up around here, you know the tradition and want to be a part of it,” Lawrence said. “Winning three out of four is big, especially being a senior.”The Terriers (22-5-1) got a fight from the Huskies all night and wound up winning the game in an almost improbable fashion by scoring an astounding three shorthanded goals.”I’ve never seen that in my life at the Beanpot,” BU coach Jack Parker said of his penalty kill unit’s success. “Special teams obviously was a big advantage for us but not in the way I would have thought.”For Northeastern, it turned into a night where missed opportunities were too much to overcome.The Huskies were an anemic 1-for-10 on the power play in the game, with no more crippling miss than a 5-on-3 for 1:30 early on in the third period.”You have to give the BU penalty killers credit. They won the game,” Northeastern coach Greg Cronin said.After freshman goalie Kieran Millan helped the Terriers weather the storm that was Northeastern’s charge early in the third period, it was the BU penalty killers who iced the game.With Joe Pereira off for slashing at 12:54, it looked for the entire world that the Huskies just might come back and make things very interesting. But when defenseman Warsofsky blocked a shot at the BU line, it set up the game’s defining moment.Warsofsky bolted up the ice with the puck and beat Northeastern goaltender Brad Thiessen, who claimed his second straight Eberly Award as the tournament’s top goalie, short side to give BU a 4-2 lead with 6:06 left to play.Half a minute later, Wilson helped seal Northeastern’s fate.Lynnfield native Chris Higgins forced a turnover in the BU end, resulting in Kevin Shattenkirk and Wilson having a 2-on-1. Shattenkirk made a perfect pass and Wilson beat Thiessen blocker side to put the Huskies down for the count.”No matter what level of hockey you’re at, if you give up three shorthanded goals, you’re not going to win,” Cronin said.The end was a major difference from how the two teams began the much-anticipated battle in front of a sellout crowd.After 10 minutes of cautious play, things broke wide open as both teams’ penalty killers were called upon numerous times. BU, owner of the nation’s top power play, took advantage first as Colby Cohen scored on a 5-on-3 for the Terriers at 16:09.The Huskies fought back with time running out in the first as Joe Vitale’s hustle to the net resulted in freshman Mike McLaughlin’s fourth goal of the season and a tie game.Northeastern also started the second period with 1:35 of power play time but it would be the Terriers who actually converted.Brandon Yip missed over the net on a breakaway after a Northeastern defenseman snapped his stick. The carom came back in front where tourney MVP Nick Bonino was waiting to score his third goal in two nights at the Garden just 27 seconds into the second.Northeastern, however, kept coming and just after a power play had ended, Tyler McNeely scored on a rebound to knot the game at 2-2 with 9:59 left in the second.But just 65 seconds later, Higgins wheeled off the left wing boards and threaded the needle to Lawrence across ice for a one-timer that put BU ahead for good.”Chris really did make a great pass there,” Lawrence said. “It’s a great feeling because it helped the team win a championship.”In the consolation game, Benn Ferriero scored his second tally of the nigh