Early in the second period, the University of Maine tried to skate out of its zone. But a collision left the puck just within the blue line.

Boston University pounced for a three-on-two rush and scored.

And so it went.

The Black Bears had trouble with BU’s forechecking, and the Terriers coasted to a 7-0 rout Saturday night before 6,206 at Cross Insurance Arena.

It was another split series for the Black Bears, who beat BU 5-2 on Friday night. Maine is 4-6 overall, 3-3 in Hockey East.

BU, ranked 18th in the country, improved to 6-7-1, 4-4-1.

“Our team, because they played really well Friday night and won a big game, thought it was going to be easy,” said Maine Coach Red Gendron. “We played the game tonight like we had it all figured out.

“We got it handed to us. It’s a process. We have to learn from this, being embarrassed at home, and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Goalie Rob McGovern kept Maine in it early, but the Terriers got too many solid chances.

“We attacked with speed,” BU Coach David Quinn said. “With our speed, forecheck should be our identity and I thought we did a good job. We hounded the puck and didn’t give them a lot of time or space. That caused some turnovers for us, and that’s usually when you can strike.”

The Terriers quickly took a 1-0 lead when Shane Bowers scored his first of two goals at 1:27. Patrick Harper, BU’s leading scorer and a Nashville Predators draft pick, skated the puck behind the net. He fed Bowers in the circle for a one-timer.

McGovern made key saves in the first period, including one a two-on-one rush. Then, when Bowers got the puck alone in the slot after a turnover, McGovern made another save.

The Black Bears created chances in the first period – 10 shots to BU’s 11. Maine crashed the net but was unable to get a rebound.

“We never came back,” Gendron said. “That’s a function of our team having to mature emotionally. It’s not a physical thing.”

In the second period, the early turnover that led to a three-on-two featured a crisp cross-ice pass from Chad Krys to Jordan Greenway, who scored into the top left corner at 4:27.

A delayed penalty against Maine brought BU goalie Jake Oettinger to the bench. With a six-on-five advantage, the Terriers crashed the net, and Hank Crone scored at 13:46.

BU then created another turnover in Maine’s zone. A shot hit the post and bounced back into a scrum. The puck trickled in at 19:17, with Brady Tkachuk getting credit for the goal.

Roughing calls and other penalties dominated the third period. BU converted two odd-man rushes to make it 6-0, and McGovern was replaced by Maine’s No. 3 goalie, Stephen Mundinger. He gave up a power-play goal at 19:23.

NOTES: The Maine hockey team will be at North Yarmouth Academy from noon to 1 p.m. Sunday for a “Skate with the Bears” promotion. There’s no fee. … Maine leaves Sunday night for the Friendship Four tournament in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Maine will play Providence at 2 p.m. Friday and RPI or Clarkson on Saturday. … Maine’s next plays at Alfond Arena on Dec. 1-2 against Vermont (1-4-1, 3-8-1).

Related Stories