Most impressive tonight was the special teams play for the Terriers — they scored on the power play and on the penalty kill — doing everything right all night, including killing off a five-minute major as well.
John Connolly was impressive with a couple of goals, but you really have to like what you see in future pros David Warsofsky and Charlie Croyle. The Bruins and Blues respectively have some prospects on their hands with those two.
Third period, 10:01, BU 5-2: Harvard takes advantage of some open ice during a four-on-four stretch and cut the lead to three.
Michael Biega's wrist shot was turned away, but Harvard's Ryan Grimshaw was there on the doorstep for an easy little backhander finding the back of the net to get within three.
Third period, 10:30, BU 5-1: BU just pouring it on now. Justin Courtnall scores to give the Terriers the commanding four-goal lead.
Third period, 12:00, BU 4-1: Impressive work for the BU special teams tonight, with perhaps their most notable work coming in the last five minutes.
The Terriers just killed off a five-minute major penalty for a hit to the head, and it looks like they now have this one in cruise control.
Third period, 19:37, BU 4-1: BU strikes early again, and this one may put things away.
Harvard junior forward Alex Killorn had all kinds of problems handling the puck in his own zone, and it ended up costing him and the Crimson dearly.
BU captain Joe Pereira took advantage of Killorn's turnover right in front of his own cage, and buried it home to extend the lead to 4-1.
Second intermission, BU 3-1: Chris Connolly had a brilliant bid for a hat trick in the waning seconds of the second period, but Richter was able to turn Connolly aside and deny the hat trick bid.
In addition to denying Connolly a noteworthy press clipping, Richter also may have kept the Crimson in the game with the big save.
We'll have to see if it serves to add any momentum for Harvard as they try to climb back in the third.
2nd period, 6:31, BU 3-1: We've seen the Terriers strike on the power play, now we've seen them do it a man down.
After forcing a turnover just outside of his own zone, Chris Connolly beat Kyle Richter with a wicked wrist shot over the goalie's glove right inside the top-left post.
Connolly's second tally of the evening gives the Terriers a 3-1 lead as the second period winds down.
2nd period, 12:02, BU 2-1: David Warsofsky is likely impressing Bruins fans watching him for the first time.
While he's a bit undersized at the blue line — he's only 5-foot-9 — there's no denying his offensive talent.
Multiple times on a recent BU power play, the junior defenseman pinched down from the blue line creating a couple of chances for him to tee up a slap shot. The shots were turned away, but his offensive presence is undeniable, especially on the power play.
2nd period, 15:58, BU 2-1: As quickly as Harvard falls behind by two, they quickly cut the BU lead in half just minutes later.
A beautiful cross-ice pass from Michael Biega found Marshall Everson who was initially turned away at close-range by the post, but jammed home his own rebound to make it 2-1, BU.
2nd period, 18:03, BU 2-0: While BU wasted no time on their first power play of the game, they wasted no time getting back on the board in the second period.
Less than two minutes into the second, and right after killing off a penalty, Wade Megan gives the Terriers a 2-0 lead.
The play was started by Charlie Croyle on a hard rush up the right side. Croyle found Sean Escobedo in the slot, and while his shot was initially turned away by Richter, Megan was right there to poke home the rebound over the goalie's right shoulder.
First intermission, BU 1-0: Boston University heads to the Agganis Arena locker room with an early 1-0 lead.
The Terriers were able to withstand somewhat of a rush early on from Harvard and ended up taking advantage of the only power play presented to BU in the first.
Harvard is struggling some offensively despite the early burst, but they'll start the second period on a power play. BU's Garret Noonan was sent off late in the first for a hit from behind, and Harvard will have the man-advantage for 1:47 when the second period gets underway.
1st period, 3:00, BU 1-0: For those who haven't seen BU freshman Charlie Coyle — the first-round pick of the Sharks this past summer — he is quite the player.
Coyle is impressive with the puck, and he just single-handedly set up David Warsofsky — property of the Bruins — for a one-timer that was turned aside by Richter.
1st period, 8:19, BU 1-0: The BU power play doesn't waste any time on the power play grabbing the early lead.
The Terriers strike first as some beautiful puck movement leads to the game's first goal — a one-timer from the right dot for BU junior Chris Connolly.
Connolly was the beneficiary of a beautiful cross-ice pass from Adam Clendening after Corey Trivino found him from the back of the net.
1st period, 8:43, 0-0: BU starting to find its groove a little bit more here as the opening stanza progresses.
The Chiasson chance is still far and away the best chance for the Terriers, but BU is starting to control the puck deep in the Harvard zone more and more.
It's paid off for the time being as Harvard's Danny Fick goes off for two minutes for holding, giving BU the first man-advantage of the night.
1st period, 11:00, 0-0: Alex Chiasson finds his legs for BU, but he can't find the back of the net thanks to an impressive save from Kyle Richter.
The Harvard goalie just turned away Chiasson on a break, easily the game's best scoring chance so far.
1st period, 13:00, 0-0: Tonight's matchup looked like a bit of a mismatch on paper, but Harvard has come out with a pretty sustained attack.
The layoff may be affecting the Terriers, and the Crimson hold an early advantage in shots on goal. Could be just be a matter of BU finding its legs, though.
7:00 p.m.: The Terriers and Crimson are just minutes away from faceoff.
No surprises in net for either squads — Kieran Millan will get the start for BU and senior Kyle Richter is between the pipes for Harvard.
4:30 p.m.: Boston University and Harvard are no strangers to each other when it comes to college hockey, but on Saturday night, the two teams will do something they haven't done in 45 years.
The Terriers and Crimson, who often meet in the Beanpot will tangle at BU's Agganis Arena for the two teams' first January tilt in 45 years.
BU comes in as the No. 16 team in the country with a 9-5-6 record, getting ready for the first game after a month-long layoff. Harvard, meanwhile, heads to Agganis with a 3-11-0 record.
Bruins fans will be able get a look at defensive prospect David Warsofsky on Saturday night. Warsofsky, a fourth-round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues in 2008, was traded to the Bruins for Vladimir Sobotka during the 2010 NHL draft.
Be sure to tune in to NESN for coverage of Saturday night's game, or check back with NESN.com throughout the evening for updates. Faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
