It wouldn't be playoff hockey unless we saw an heroic overtime game winner.
Merrimack's Joe Cucci was the man for the job Saturday night as he avenged the team's disappointing loss Friday night to give the Warriors an exciting 3-2 overtime win against Boston University at Agganis Arena.
After letting the lead slip through their hands in Game 1 of last night's quarterfinal action on two unanswered goals, Merrimack was hungry to even the series vs BU.
Rookie scoring sensation Stephane Da Costa put Merrimack in front at 11:30 on a Chris Barton assist. Similar to last night, the Warriors entered the locker room after the first out-shooting their opponent and with a one-goal lead in hand.
Ah, but just when you think you have Boston University figured out, Jack Parker always finds a way to pull a solution from his sleeve.
At just 2:33 in the second, senior Eric Gryba lit the lamp for his fourth of the year with the helpers coming from Joe Pereira and Luke Popko. With the third leading power play in the country, Merrimack would reclaim the lead before the end of the period. Brandon Brodhag picked up his tenth of the year on the man-advantage at 18:21 to reclaim the lead after forty minutes of play.
The persistent Terriers, refusing to give up, clawed their way back in the third to tie it up for the second time at 5:19. Alex Chiasson and Zach Cohen set up freshman Wade Megan for his fifth of the year.
After neither team was able to strike again in regulation, Cucci's game-winner came at 2:16 to silence Comm. Ave and keep the Warriors' Hockey East title hopes alive.
Both goaltenders played incredible for their teams as Merrimack's Joe Cannata and Kieran Milan made 35 and 26 saves respectively.
Both teams will hit the ice again tomorrow night at 7 p.m. for the third and final game of the series.
