BU stuns Bears> Terriers snap Maine streak

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ORONO – The streak-breakers did it again!

On Feb. 19, 1993, Boston University’s Terriers ended the University of Maine hockey team’s 44-game Alfond Arena unbeaten streak and 42-game regular-season unbeaten skein, 7-6 in overtime.

Saturday night, the Terriers never trailed as they received a natural hat trick (three straight goals) from speedy sophomore right wing Carl Corazzini to beat the Bears 4-1 at the Alfond Arena.

Maine had its nine-game winning streak and 12-game Alfond Arena unbeaten skein (11-0-1) snapped.

BU improved to 12-16-3 overall, 7-11-3 in Hockey East. The Bears fell to 23-3-4, 15-3-2 and now trail New Hampshire by one point in the battle for the regular-season title.

Maine has a game in hand on UNH.

BU coach Jack Parker challenged his players before Saturday’s game after what he considered an embarrassing 7-2 loss to the Bears on Friday night.

“Coach told us how poorly we played and how disappointed he was. He told us we didn’t represent the jersey as well as we should have,” said Corazzini. “So we came out hard. We were bumping and grinding and we created that first goal [by Chris Heron], which was a big boost for us.”

Parker said, “I told them we had to try to match Maine’s intensity and work ethic and I thought we did tonight. We took a page out of Maine’s book. Our kids did a terrific job.”

Maine coach Shawn Walsh pointed out that his 1992-93 team bounced back to win the national championship after that loss to BU and that BU rallied after absorbing a late-season sweep at Maine during the 1996-97 season to reach NCAA title game.

“A loss in February can be the best thing to happen to you if you’re analytical enough to let it help you,” said Walsh. “We tried to force offense and we can’t play that way because we gave up too many odd-man rushes.

“Michel [Larocque] played real well, so did Corazzini,” added Walsh. “Their defense did a great job. We didn’t get a lot of traffic or second shots.”

Maine senior right wing and captain Steve Kariya, who was pointless in the series, said, “There was a lot of clutching and grabbing. The did a good job holding everybody up. They did what it takes to win. They deserved to win. They were the better team tonight.”

Heron’s power-play goal off a Dan Cavanaugh pass, a one-timer into the short side from the inner edge of the left circle, staked BU to a 1-0 lead as it held Maine to four first-period shots on goal.

Dan Kerluke tied it in the second period when the rebound of a Brendan Walsh wraparound squirted across the crease to him.

With only 1:11 left in the middle period, Greg Quebec chipped the puck out of the defensive zone and that sent Corazzini streaking down the right wing on a two-on-one. Maine defenseman A.J. Begg dove and got a piece of the puck “but [Corazzini] made a great play to keep it on his stick.”

Corazzini thought Maine goalie Alfie Michaud was going to pokecheck him but he didn’t.

“I brought it to the far side and was able to sneak it by him,” said Corazzini.

Michaud said he tried to stay with Corazzini “but he was moving too fast.”

Larocque rejected 30 shots, including all 15 he faced in the third period. He had 13 Grade-A saves.

Terriers 4, Black Bears 1

Boston University (12-16-2) 1 1 2 – 4 Maine (23-3-4) 0 1 0 – 1

First period – 1. BU, Heron 16 (Cavanaugh, Degerman), 3:09 (pp). Penalties: Maine, Gustafsson, hooking, 1:24; BU, Ronan, tripping, 6:41; BU, DiMella, holding, 11:42; Maine, Heisten, hitting after the whistle, 17:48; BU, Degerman, hitting after the whistle, 17:48.

Second period – 2. Maine, Kerluke 18 (Walsh, Gustafsson), 6:20; 3. BU, Corazzini 10 (Quebec, Vuori), 18:49. Penalties: BU, O’Connell, holding, 2:05; Maine, Begg, interference, 6:40.

Third period – 4. BU, Corazzini 11 (Perry), 2:54; 5. BU, Corazzini 12 (Perry, O’Connell), 10:49. Penalties: BU, Perry, interference, 8:27; BU, Gillis, elbowing, 11:28; Maine, Kerluke, slashing, 11:28; Maine, Kariya, cross checking, 19:05; BU, DiMella, roughing and hitting after the whistle, 19:41; BU, Hanson, roughing and hitting after the whistle, 19:41; Maine, Walsh, hooking and hitting after the whistle, 19:41; Maine, Stewart, roughing and hitting after the whistle, 19:41; Maine, Janik, roughing and hitting after the whistle, 19:41.

Shots on goal: BU 5-10-11 – 27; Maine 4-12-15 – 31

Goaltenders: BU, Michel Larocque (31 shots-30 saves); Maine, Alfie Michaud (26-22)

High percentage scoring attempts: BU 1-10-7 – 18; Maine 5-11-15 – 31

Power-plays opportunities: BU 1-4; Maine 0-4

Attendance: 5,587 (sellout)