BU men’s hockey fails in its first real test, losing 4-2 to No. 3 Michigan State

Boston University’s top-ranked men’s hockey team faced its first real test Friday evening.

It certainly did not receive a passing grade.

The Terriers fell 4-2 to No. 3 Michigan State (2-1) in front of a silenced Agganis Arena and a national audience, broadcast on ESPN2.

“We weren’t ready at this point,” head coach Jay Pandolfo said.

BU (2-1-1) looked disconnected all night, struggling to string together passes, get out of the defensive zone and generate any sustained offensive pressure during even-strength play.

The Terriers failed to follow Pandolfo’s instructions leading up to Friday’s game, which emphasized that they wanted to keep the puck and force Michigan State to steal it, rather than engage in a fight and play the Spartans’ direct hockey style.

“They didn’t want to follow any game plan,” Pandolfo said of his team. “It was ugly. It was really ugly.”

BU was outclassed from the opening puck drop. After sophomore forward Sacha Boisvert won the draw, the Terriers quickly conceded the puck, allowed a 2-on-1 rush and were fortunate to have senior forward Charlie Stramel’s shot from the slot sail wide.

“We’re lucky they don’t score there,” Pandolfo said.

It didn’t take long for Stramel to find the back of the net and open the scoring at 5:52 of the first period. Just seconds after the clock expired on a Spartans power play, senior defenseman Matt Basgall unleashed a shot from the top of the right circle. Stramel, standing in front of the crease, tipped the puck past the left shoulder of sophomore netminder Mikhail Yegorov.

The Terriers had a golden opportunity to equalize just 16 seconds later. MSU freshman forward Austin Baker was ejected with a major game misconduct penalty for cross-checking Cole Hutson in the neutral zone, giving the Terriers a five-minute man advantage.

However, it was the Spartans who found the back of the net at the 7:30 mark of the first period after freshman forward Conrad Fondrk mishandled the puck in the neutral zone. MSU freshman Eric Nilson grabbed the puck and scored on a 1-on-0 breakaway, lifting the puck past Yegorov for a shorthanded goal to double the Spartans’ lead.

“All of a sudden we’re going about it the wrong way and they’re in a breakout,” Pandolfo said.

The Terriers failed to score over the remaining 3:38 of the man advantage. Michigan State outscored BU 3-2 after the big penalty, including another 1-on-0 breakaway opportunity that Yegorov thwarted.

“I thought guys were trying to do it alone instead of together,” Pandolfo said of the five-minute power play.

MSU freshman forward Porter Martone, the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NHL draft, was sent to the box at the 12:07 mark of the first period for interference – a neutral zone hit against junior captain Gavin McCarthy.

Sophomore defenseman Sascha Boumedienne took advantage and cut BU’s deficit in half at 1:17 p.m. The Swede unleashed a wrister from the high slot in the top right corner to beat junior netminder Trey Augustine.

Freshman forward Cayden Lindstrom, the 2024 fourth overall pick, answered right back and made it 3-1 for the Spartans at 15:12 of the first period, throwing a five-hole finish past Yegorov on another 1-on-0 breakaway. The Terriers were late in transition and Lindstrom beat them on the ice. Freshman defenseman Carter Amico was left helplessly chasing the play, and there wasn’t even another white jersey in sight.

“We give them breakouts in the first period,” Pandolfo said. “Just a lot of careless, careless mistakes.”

After a scoreless second period, MSU sophomore forward Shane Vansaghi added for the Spartans at 1:57 of the third period, cleaning up a rebound in front of the net.

With a three-goal lead in the third period, MSU continued to generate chances while BU was in the defensive zone. The Spartans outscored BU 14-5 in the third period and 34-20 overall.

After most BU fans had already headed for the exits, freshman Ryder Ritchie scored at the 7:00 mark of the third period to make it 4-2 Spartans. Martone was whistled for a 10-minute penalty at 6:37, and with the net empty, Ritchie converted the 6-on-4 chance.

The Terriers went 2-for-6 on the power play, including the five-minute scoreless streak.

“I’m not even counting the second power play goal. We get one power play,” Pandolfo said. “We had nothing, not even strength. Nothing.”

BU will have to regroup quickly to avoid another disappointment as the Spartans await the second game of a two-game series on Saturday at 7 p.m.

“It won’t be easy,” Pandolfo said. “It’s going to be a really good way to see what we’re up against tomorrow night, and see what kind of reaction we have.”