TOLEDO, Ohio — No. 16 Men’s hockey is slated to face No. 8 Boston University in the NCAA Tournament regional final at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.
For the latest updates on the men’s hockey team, follow senior editor and men’s hockey beat reporter Jane McNally @janemcnally_.
The Numbers:
Records: Cornell (19-10-6, 10-8-4 ECAC) Boston University (22-13-2, 14-8-2 Hockey East).
Power play percentage: Cornell 15.1 percent (56th) Boston University 28.2 percent (4th).
Penalty kill percentage: Cornell 83.0 percent (16th) Boston University 78.0 percent (40th).
Faceoff win percentage: Cornell 54.3 percent (7th) Boston University 49.7 percent (34th).
Goals scored per game on average: Cornell 3.1 (20th) Boston University 3.8 (4th).
Goals against per game on average: Cornell 2.3 (11th) Boston University 3.0 (36th).
Series history: Cornell and BU have a long history, but Cornell has a slight edge in the 100-year rivalry, 27-22-3. In the last 10 matchups between the two teams, the Terriers have a 5-4-1 advantage dating back to 2011.
The Red and the Terriers most commonly meet at Madison Square Garden in New York City for the biennial Red Hot Hockey event. The last edition of that series was the last time these two teams met, which was a 2-1 Cornell win that was trademarked by a 35-save performance by senior goaltender Ian Shane.
Cornell and BU last met in the NCAA Tournament just two years ago, also in a regional final in Manchester, New Hampshire. The Terriers outlasted the Red, 2-1, to advance to the Frozen Four.
Common opponents: Union, Harvard, North Dakota, University of Massachusetts, Yale
Cornell vs. Union: 0-2-0. Feb. 8: 1-4, Feb. 28: 1-4
BU vs. Union: 1-0-0. Oct. 12: 4-1
Cornell vs. Harvard: 1-0-1. Nov. 16: 2-2 (SOW), Jan. 24: 4-1
BU vs. Harvard: 1-0-0. Feb 3: 7-1
Cornell vs. North Dakota: 2-0-0. Nov. 1: 4-1, Nov. 2: 5-3
BU vs. North Dakota: 1-1-0. Oct. 25: 1-7, Oct. 26: 4-3
Cornell vs. Massachusetts: 1-0-0. Jan. 3: 4-2
BU vs. Massachusetts: 2-1-0. Dec. 7: 0-4, Dec. 11: 4-2, March 15: 3-2 (OT)
Cornell vs. Yale: 1-0-1. Nov. 8: 2-2 (SOL), Feb. 15: 5-3
BU vs. Yale: 0-1-0. Dec. 29: 5-7
Cornell’s last time out: Last-Second Goal Sends No. 16 Men’s Hockey to NCAA Regional Final, Topping No. 1 Michigan State
Final score: Cornell 4, Michigan State 3.
A thrilling victory over the team tabbed No. 1 in the nation by U.S. College Hockey Online sent Cornell to the regional final. Sophomore forward Ryan Walsh scored twice, freshman forward Charlie Major lit the lamp and senior forward Sullivan Mack secured the game-winning goal with just 10 seconds left in the game.
Shane made 34 saves to get the victory. Cornell was outshot by Michigan State, 30-9, after two periods, but the Red scored twice in the third period to knock off the second-seeded team in the tournament. Mack’s goal also came on the power play, the only one Cornell received all game.
Boston University’s last time out: Before Cornell and Michigan State took the ice, BU secured its spot in the regional final with an eye-opening 8-3 win over Ohio State.
The score does not tell the whole story — the Terriers were down 1-0 after a tough first period, and played catch-up in the early parts of the second. But a combined three goals in 42 between the two teams ended a wild second period with a 3-3 tie, and a five-goal third period by BU (one being an empty-netter) advanced it to its third regional final in as many years.
Scouting the Terriers: Boston University saw the departure of NHL first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini, but it reloaded with a handful of offensive weapons. The Terriers boast the Hockey East Rookie of the Year in defenseman Cole Hutson, the third Hutson brother to don the BU sweater. Hutson put up 44 points as a freshman defenseman, enough for second-most on the team behind his older brother Quinn, who tallied 48.
The Terriers are a talented offensive team with depth — nine players have posted over 20 points this year, including four players with 30+. Cole Eiserman will be another key player to watch — the freshman forward has posted 10 points in his last five games, including the overtime-winner against Massachusetts in the Hockey East quarterfinals and a two-goal game against Ohio State in the regional semifinals.
The talent doesn’t stop there — between the pipes, Mikhail Yegorov has been lights-out since enrolling at Boston University in mid-January. The St. Petersburg, Russia native has posted a .929 save percentage and a 2.06 goals against average since departing the United State Hockey League’s Omaha Lancers for college hockey. Though he is young and not the goaltender that has led the Terriers to two straight Frozen Fours, Yegorov is a stout goaltender and plays older and wiser than his years.
Cornell beats BU if: … two things.
One, it must continue to be disciplined. The Red took one penalty against Michigan State on Thursday, and it ended up resulting in a goal for the Spartans. Had Cornell taken more penalties, that could’ve changed the outcome of the game. Disciplined hockey will be key to keeping the Terriers at bay — BU’s power play ranks fourth in the nation.
Two, the Cole’s must be contained. Eiserman and Hutson lit up Hockey East as freshmen, and they are hungry to advance BU to the Frozen Four. The Terriers allow 3.0 goals per game on average, which is subpar — BU wins games with its prolific offense. If Eiserman and Hutson don’t get on the scoresheet, and if Cornell’s defense continues to hunker down, the Red could become the first team to punch its ticket to St. Louis.
To put into perspective how lock-down Cornell’s defense has been:
What They’re Saying in Ithaca: Head coach Mike Schafer ’86 on playing Boston University: “We're looking forward to playing Boston University. We’re very familiar with them, we play them at Madison Square Garden every other year. They [have] a tremendous program and team, and it's going to be our mini Red Hot Hockey here in Toledo with them. We have a lot of respect for them, so [it] should be a tremendous game. ”
Schafer on advancing to the Frozen Four: “And now here we’ve got BU, a familiar foe that ended our season [two] years ago, after we'd beaten Denver in the first round. That experience, I think, is invaluable. To go through the pain that happens when you lose at a regional, especially when you don't win in the final of a regional — it lingers. ”
What they’re saying in Boston: Boston University head coach Jay Pandolfo about the Terriers’ semifinal win: “I don’t know if a whole lot needs to be said. Our guys are smart. They saw what happened in the first period. They understand that if you want to win, you’re not going to get away with it every game. We had another lesson, but we found a way to win in the game.”
How to follow along: Video on ESPN2, radio in Ithaca on WHCU 97.7 FM/870 AM, on Twitter @DailySunSports.
Jane McNally is a senior editor on the 143rd editorial board and was the sports editor on the 142nd editorial board. She is a member of the class of 2026 in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. You can follow her on X @JaneMcNally_ and reach her at jmcnally@cornellsun.com.
