M Hockey: No. 15 BU Beats No.

17 Cornell in Drama-Filled OT By Jashvina Shah NEW YORK -- Junior Ross Gaudet didnt know until 1:45 p.m. on Saturday that hed be playing at the Worlds Most Famous Arena. But with 2:12 left in overtime, the Massachusetts native knew exactly what to do after he deflected junior Max Nicastro's pass between his legs for the game-winning goal. He got down on one knee and Tebowed. It was the Tim Tebow cele[bration], Gaudet said with a smile. It was just something Id been thinking about doing lately if I ended up scoring a goal and I had a good stage to do it, I guess. Gaudets goal, which was his first of the season, propelled Boston Universitys mens ice hockey team to a 2-1 overtime victory over Cornell at Madison Square Garden. The win on Saturday night marked BU's second win at the bi-annual Red Hot Hockey event. Although the Terriers (7-4-1, 5-3-1 HE) scored in the first frame and the Big Red (6-3-0, 5-1-0 ECAC) tied the game in the third, the second period was the only frame where one team, Cornell, dominated. All three goal scorers -- Gaudet, Adam Clendening and Cornells Locke Jillson -- scored their first goals of the year. Its ironic that, and this happens a lot, with big games, emotional games, three goals are scored by guys who got their first goal of the year, BU head coach Jack Parker said. You never know whos going to wind up a hero and Ross Gaudet got a goal tonight, and hes been a good player for us over his career. Hes been snake-bitten this year and to get a goal, not having one up until now, and then getting that one must make him feel a lot better. Gaudet may have never had the chance to score in overtime, as a strange bounce off senior goalkeeper Kieran Millans back caromed the puck into the net and threatened to break the tie in Cornells favor. The clock froze with four minutes left in the third, but referees agreed the whistle had been blown before the puck slipped into the net. It wasnt the only close scoring chance Cornell had, as the Big Red controlled the second frame and attempted 27 shots on net. Some well-timed defensive stops and luck kept the Big Red from getting a score of their own. "I was surprised that we outshot them 27-24, Parker said. It seems like they had 50 shots in the second period. They had all kinds of possessions in the second

period. Then I realized that, when I looked at the stat sheet, we blocked 21 shots. I thought the shot-blocking thing was a huge part of it." Millan helped his defense out by making 11 saves in the second period, including a few incredible stops. The Alberta native finished with 23 saves on the night. I though Kieran Millan was terrific tonight. Millan had one of his best games ever, Parker. [He] put on quite a show out there and looked really poised, especially in the second period when they [Cornell] were all around the net. Millans counterpart, sophomore Andy Iles, was effective as well. The Ithaca, N.Y. native finished with 25 saves and kept the Terriers from capitalizing on most of their scoring chances. Part of the reason the Terriers managed to get past Iles was because of their special teams, as BUs first goal of the game -- Clendenings tally at the 11:07 mark in the first -- on a 5-on-3 power play. The Terriers were also a perfect 3-for3 on the penalty kill. Its more effort that anything else, at the end of the day with the penalty kill, Gaudet said. Overall our team defense has been great the past four or five games and I think penalty kill is a part of that. So just our effort, getting comfortable, I think everyone really understands the system, pass systems, how were supposed to play and really execute it well. Despite being held scoreless on the power play and dominating in the second, Cornell couldnt tie the game until 11:06 minutes passed in the third, off a goal from senior Jillson. Jillson picked up the pick on the right side and maneuvered past a fallen Millan for his first tally of the season. Jillson was the only goal scorer who played at Madison Square Garden in 2009 for the second installment of Red Hot Hockey. Gaudet and Clendening played in front of the sellout crowd of 18,200 for the first time. Its hard not to be overwhelmed by that sometimes. Youre driving the bus here, its New York City and all of a sudden youre at Times Square, youre near Macys and you cant believe the sea of people, Parker said. That was on the way in last night. They [the Terriers] were walking around last night a little bit after the meal, they were walking around today a little bit. Im sure theyre, ah this is really the real thing.