Abysmal faceoff performance plagued Terriers on Saturday

In Boston University coach Jack Parker’s opinion, three things doomed his men’s hockey team Saturday night against the No. 8/9 University of Massachusetts-Lowell: early penalties, an inability to stop the River Hawks below the dots, but more than anything, ineptitude on the face-off.

“That may have been the worst thing that was the difference in the game, was how bad we were on the faceoff,” he said.

The Terriers were 19-of-60 on the dot.

“When you win faceoffs, two things happen –– you get shots on net and you get absolute puck possession,” Parker said. “You demoralize the power play when you’re on the penalty kill. You win it and can ice it.”

BU’s inability to gain immediate control of the puck was indicative of the way the

possession battle unfolded. Possession begins with the faceoff, and because the Terriers

couldn’t get that leg up, Lowell settled comfortably into offensive set after offensive

set, at the expense of the Terriers.

The loss of first-line centerman Nick Bonino, one of the team’s best draw takers, to a dislocated shoulder was a big blow to the Terriers’ faceoff effectiveness. His replacement, sophomore Corey Trivino, was a subpar 8-for-20 on faceoffs Saturday.

“You lose a center like Nick Bonino, it’s tough, because he’s a great faceoff guy,”

junior defensemen Kevin Shattenkirk said. “You have guys who are naturally wingers like Chris Connelly, or Vinny Saponari, and they have to come in and take faceoffs.”

Bonino was 11-for-18 in BU’s opening game loss to the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, the leading factor in the Terriers’ 34-to-28 cumulative advantage, that night.

But Shattenkirk and senior defensemen Eric Gryba were quick to point out that winning a faceoff isn’t a singular struggle –– it requires a cohesive effort from all five guys on

the ice.

“We have to work on kind of keeping pucks alive,” Shattenkirk said. “Whether it’s one to

the corner or just kind of a loose puck to the center’s feet, just to kind of whack at it

and gain possession that way.”

Lowell was more alert off the first touch on Saturday. Repeatedly, Terriers were

beaten to pucks that kicked out in front of the net.

The Terriers haven’t been able to gain momentum on the power play this year, largely because they waste half their precious time chasing down pucks.

“When you’re on the power play you win it and you get it back, you keep it in your zone

and you get chances off your power play,” Parker said. “You don’t have to go back, get it and bring it out.”

BU was lucky to escape with a victory on Friday at Tsongas Area despite losing the faceoff battle 41-to-32.

The Terriers’ first three goals scored on fastbreaks, executing at a high percentage they can’t possibly keep up.

Exhibit A: Saturday night.