Northeastern vs. Boston University final score: Saponari scores late winner; Huskies win on road, 6-5

BOSTON -- How fitting?

Former Boston University captain Vinny Saponari collected a rebound in front of the net at the 17:57 mark of the third period, lifting the visiting Northeastern Huskies to a 6-5 road victory over the No. 9 Terriers on Friday night at Agganis Arena.

The goal was the Georgia native's fifth of the season and his second-career winner against his former team.

With the win, the Huskies improved to 7-10-2 on the season and earned their first Hockey East victory of 2013. Dating back to Nov. 30, 2012 at UMass, the win was NU's third over the last four contests on the road.

The Huskies held a 38-34 edge in shots on goal for the game, while junior Braden Pimm converted on a second period power-play.

The Terriers climbed within two goals just 58 seconds into the final period as rookie Danny O'Regan dished off his second assist of the game, finding sophomore Evan Rodrigues alone for a wicked wrist shot in the slot.

After junior Garrett Noonan rung the post from the blue line, Rodrigues netted his second of the contest as he took the careen off the post, to the left of NU senior Chris Rawlings, at 4:41 to cut the score to 5-4. O'Regan knotted the score at 6:36 of the period as he was credited with the rebound strike in front.

Joshua Kummins covers Hockey East for SB Nation. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKummins.

Northeastern vs. Boston University score update: Huskies add two more for 5-2 road lead

BOSTON -- A strong road effort from the Northeastern Huskies continued through the second period as they scored twice more and took a 5-2 lead into the intermission at Agganis Arena. NU held a shots on goal advantage in the first period, but trailed 14-12 in the middle stanza.

After a slow start to the stanza, the Huskies tacked another to their score at the 8:03 mark as senior captain Vinny Saponari was the last to whack at a loose puck in front of BU rookie Sean Maguire for his fourth goal of the season. The goal ended a 5-on-3 Husky advantage and came in the same minute after junior Cody Ferriero rung the crossbar from between the circles.

Ferriero redeemed himself at 16:21 as he led a one-on-one rush up ice, beating Alexx Privitera on defense and stuffing it under Maguire's five-hole in goal for his eighth goal of the season.

Joshua Kummins covers Hockey East for SB Nation. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKummins.

Northeastern vs. Boston University score update: Huskies score two late, lead 3-2 after one

BOSTON -- In the first meeting of the season between No. 9 Boston University and Northeastern, the offenses flew out of the gates over the initial period. After a series of scores at the beginning and end of the stanza on both sides, the Huskies held a 3-2 lead and 15-8 shots on goal advantage.

Just 2:03 in, the Huskies took a 1-0 lead on a gift goal credited to junior Robbie Vrolyk as he took a long shot on net that eluded the catching glove of BU rookie Sean Maguire by bouncing over and into the back of the net. The strike was the fifth of the season for the Boylston, Mass. native and his second in three games.

The lead did not last long, however, as the Terriers took advantage of their first two power-play chances with goals in extremely quick succession.

First at 4:21, rookie Danny O'Regan dished a beautiful cross-wing pass to junior Matt Nieto, who tipped the puck into the wide-open cage of NU senior Chris Rawlings. At 4:48, junior Garrett Noonan took the drop pass between the circles from sophomore Cason Hohmann, lining up for a nifty top-shelf wrister that turned into his fourth tally of the year.

The teams went forward and back in the middle stages, before the Huskies scored twice late to take a one-goal lead into the break.

At 17:26, sophomore Adam Reid's second goal of the season came on a net-mouth scramble in front, whacking away on Maguire. Rookie Kevin Roy took advantage of a giveaway in NU's offensive zone, lifting a backhander over Maguire's shoulder with 1:53 left in the stanza - his tenth score of the year.

Joshua Kummins covers Hockey East for SB Nation. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKummins.

The Lineup: Northeastern at Boston University

BOSTON -- Greetings from the spacious press room inside Agganis Arena where the host Boston University Terriers (12-7-0, 9-4-0 HEA) put their No. 9 national ranking to the test in their first meeting of the season with the pesky Northeastern Huskies (6-10-2, 3-8-2 HEA).

NORTHEASTERN

Kevin Roy - Mike McMurtry - Vinny Saponari
Steve Morra - Braden Pimm - Cody Ferriero
Robbie Vrolyk - Garrett Vermeersch - Adam Reid
Jarrett Fennell - Zak Stone - Ryan Belonger

Drew Ellement - Dan Cornell
Mike Gunn - Josh Manson
Dax Lauwers - Colton Saucerman

Chris Rawlings (6-6-1, 2.34, .927)
Bryan Mountain
Derick Roy

BOSTON UNIVERSITY

Wade Megan - Cason Hohmann - Sahir Gill
Matt Nieto - Danny O'Regan - Evan Rodrigues
Mike Moran - Wes Myron - Sam Kurker
Matt Lane - Ben Rosen - Ryan Santana

Sean Escobedo - Alexx Privitera
Garrett Noonan - Matt Grzelcyk
Ryan Ruikka - Ahti Oksanen

Sean Maguire (5-2-0, 1.83, .938)
Matt O'Connor
Anthony Moccia

Joshua Kummins covers Hockey East for SB Nation. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKummins.

Huskies head across town, inaugurate Beanpot rival season series with BU Friday

BOSTON -- Looking to get back on the winning track, the Northeastern Huskies play their first two-game Hockey East weekend of the New Year when they travel across town to face the Boston University Terriers on Friday night at Agganis Arena. The two archrivals have yet to meet this year.