In a game that will likely be remembered as one of the most hectic contests of the NCAA National Tournament, the Boston University Terriers defeated Ohio State with a resounding 8-3 final.
With the win, Vancouver Canucks prospects Tom Willander and Aiden Celebrini have punched a ticket to the Toledo Regional finals.
After a stellar regular season, the Terriers were placed in the Toledo bracket as the second seed, facing the hometown Ohio State Buckeyes (third seed) in the opening round.
The game began with Ohio State asserting its dominance, outshooting BU 15-2 and taking a 1-0 lead after the first period. In nearly every facet of the game, Ohio’s period was flawless.
However, the Terriers refused to back down.
The second period saw an explosive exchange of goals, with three tallies in a mere 42 seconds, resulting in a 3-3 deadlock heading into the final frame.
Ohio State nearly regained the lead late in the period, but the buzzer saved BU as time expired just before the puck crossed the line.
With some gained confidence heading into the final frame, the third period belonged to the Terriers.
Just two minutes in, Aiden Celebrini rushed down the wing and fired a far-side shot that handcuffed the Ohio State goaltender. That goal not only gave his team their first lead of the entire match, but goals in back-to-back games for the Canuck prospect.
Tom Willander picked up the secondary assist on the play for the elusive Canucks combination.
That goal would stand as the game-winning tally and sparked an incredible run of six unanswered goals as BU erupted offensively to secure the 8-3 victory.
The Terriers now advance to the Toledo finals, set for Saturday, March 29th, at 1:00 PM (PT). In this single-elimination showdown, they will face the winner of the Michigan State vs. Cornell matchup (Thursday afternoon).
A victory will propel BU to the Frozen Four in Minnesota, scheduled for April 10th.
For those on Tom Willander watch, you’ll have to sit tight and wait a little longer.
