The HEAT is On: Dog Fight for The Garden (HEA QF Preview)
The Terriers knock off Vermont and head to Storrs for the Quarterfinals
#6 Seed BU defeat #11 seed Vermont to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Vermont (4-1 W)
It was do or die for the #6 seed Terriers against the #11 seed Catamounts, as a loss would end BU’s season.
Cole Eiserman opened the scoring with a power play goal at 17:16 in the first. Eiserman’s scoring BU’s last two Hockey East Tournament goals at Agganis Arena dating back to the 2025 Quarterfinal GWG in OT vs UMass. Cole Hutson had the primary assist on the goal, the 12th time he has recorded the primary assist on an Eiserman goal. BU held UVM to just 4 shots in the first period.
In the second, Vermont tied things up 2:51 in the period.
Cole Eiserman gave the Terriers back the lead at 6:51 in the third, it was Eiserman’s 30th goal at Agganis Arena meaning 69.77% of his goals have been at home. 6 minutes Cole Hutson doubled the Terriers lead with his 6th career power play goal and 1st of the season. It was just the 2nd time that both Coles recorded power play goals in the same game—first time since March 6th, 2025 vs. Providence. Cole Eiserman’s secondary assist on Hutson’s goal gave him his 4th career 3+ point game and second against Vermont. Jack Harvey capped off the win with an empty netter at 17:15 in the period. His third goal in as many home games for the first time in his career.
BU advances as a 6th seed for the first time in program history with their first win as the 6th seed since 2001. BU finishes their time at Agganis Arena 9-8-1, their 27th straight season without a losing record at home
Other Notes
BU recorded 2 power play goals in a game for the first time since October 25th at UConn
BU improves to 4-2-0 against Vermont in Hockey East tournament games
Advanced Stats
BU won Puck Battles 53% to 47% but lost face-offs in all three zones: OZone (42% to 59%), NZone (20% to 80%), and DZone (41% to 58%). BU has failed to hold the face off edge in any zone 6 times this season, they are 5-1-0 in such games. In 15 instances of OZone Play, BU recorded shots in 14 (93%).
Per Period xG: 1st (0.94-0.28, BU), 2nd (0.98-1.15, UVM), 3rd (0.81-1.01, UVM)
For a team leading 6th tie this season Cole Eiserman is the team’s top performer. The performance was his second best of the season just behind Colgate (3.86).
Both teams recorded 3 high danger shots, for BU (.75 xG) two were saved and the other resulted in Cole Eiserman’s 2nd goal (.30 xG), while UVM (.83 xG) had one result in a goal, one saved and one miss the net.
The Terriers held the xG edge the entire game with differential hovering around .5 for most of the game.
10 of 18 Terriers recorded xG% over 50, led by Jonathan Morello at 80.53.
The #6 Terriers (17-16-2, HEA: 12-12-0) head to Storrs to face the #3 UConn Huskies (March 14th, 1pm) in the Hockey East Tournament Quarterfinals with a trip to the Garden on the line.
Connecticut
(18-11-5, HEA (3rd): 12-9-3)
In a rematch of the 2025 Hockey East Tournament Semifinal, BU faces off with UConn for a spot at the Garden. The teams split the season series with each team winning on the road (4-8, 3-1).
BU enters off of a win against Vermont midweek in the Hockey East opening round at Agganis Arena. Cole Eiserman recorded his 9th career multigoal game with Cole Hutson and Jack Harvey also contributing goals.
UConn enters with just 1 win in their last 6 (1-4-1), beating UNH on March 5th (4-1) before losing to Providence (1-3) on March 7th. Senior Tristan Fraser scored two in the win, his first career multigoal game. Huskies’ leading scorer Ryan Tattle is on a two game goal streak and three game point streak.
The Huskies will be the second straight “repeat” opponent in the Jay Pandolfo Era.
Records
2-2-0 vs UConn in the Hockey East Tournament (0-1-0 under Jay Pandolfo)
54-26-1 in the Hockey East Tournament Quarter Final (3-0-0)
2-0-1 at Toscano Ice Forum (2-0-1)
Stats
Macklin Celebrini’s only 4 point game on the road was at Toscano Ice Forum
Jack Harvey has more goals at Toscano (3) than any other venue outside Agganis Arena
