March 6, 2008

Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Senior Pete MacArthur scored the game's first three goals and the 16th-ranked Boston University men's ice hockey team never looked back, recording a convincing 6-0 victory over No. 17/15 Providence at Schneider Arena on Thursday evening. Sophomore Brett Bennett stopped all 25 shots he faced to earn his third shutout in the last six games. With the win, the Terriers are guaranteed a finish of no lower than fourth in the Hockey East standings, securing home ice for next weekend's league quarterfinals.

Junior John McCarthy and freshmen Nick Bonino and Joe Pereira also scored goals for the Terriers, which won their fifth straight against the Friars to improve to 16-15-4 overall and 14-9-3 in conference play. Providence falls to an even 14-14-5 with a 11-10-5 league mark, keeping them tied for fourth in the standings.

The natural hat trick was the second three-goal effort of MacArthur's career, as the forward was the last Terrier to turn the trick back on Jan. 12, 2007, at Maine. He reached 40 points on the year, surpassing his previous high of 39 set in 2005-06, and also moved into the top 25 on BU's all-time scoring list with 142 career points.

The Terriers' top line of MacArthur, classmate Bryan Ewing (3a) and junior Chris Higgins (3a) accounted for nine points, while Bonino added an assist for a two-point night. Senior Ryan Weston, juniors Matt Gilroy, Jason Lawrence and Brandon Yip, and sophomore Zach Cohen each had one assist apiece.

BU was perfect on special teams, scoring on both of its power-play chances and killing off all three of its penalties.

After killing off its first penalty, BU came through on its first power-play opportunity of the night to open the scoring at 11:42. Some slick passing around the cage by Ewing and Higgins was capped off by an easy tap-in at the right post by MacArthur.

With just under two minutes remaining in the opening period, MacArthur made it a 2-0 contest with an impressive second effort on a breakaway set up by Higgins, who intercepted a puck in the BU zone. After collecting a pass along the left side, MacArthur crossed through the slot and had his initial attempt stuffed by Sims' pad at the far post. MacArthur was right there for the rebound, however, sending the puck off the goaltender's back and into the cage.

MacArthur capped his hat trick at 4:22 of the second when he stuffed in a rebound at the right side of the goalmouth following a saved shot from the stick of Higgins. Ewing also assisted on the play.

The two teams will wrap up the regular season on Friday (March 7) when the home-and-home series moves to Agganis Arena in a contest that will be televised live by NESN. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. The Terriers will honor their nine-member senior class following the game.