NY Islanders Prospect Cole Eiserman Scores Twice as BU Outlasts Ohio State

A few days ago, when previewing the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship, I said of Cole Eiserman:

"In a tournament built for big moments, Eiserman has shown a flair for the dramatic...Eiserman seems to be built for this type of moment. "

Those words read like a prophecy in Boston University's first game of the tournament. Eiserman scored two, as the Terriers out-dueled the Buckeyes of Ohio State 8-3. BU advanced to the second round, one victory shy of the Frozen Four.

Though the score ended lopsided, the game was anything but. The Buckeyes dominated the opening frame of the contest, outshooting the Terriers 15-2 and scoring the game's first goal at 9:06 of the first period.

The Terriers composed themselves at first intermission, and came out strong in the second period. They tied the game courtesy of a sizzling Eiserman wrist shot midway through the frame.

Chaos ensued after that goal. The teams traded blows for the rest of the second period. Joe Dunlap restored Ohio State's one-goal advantage at 12:53, only for Quinn Hutson to pull BU back even a few minutes later. Max Montes put the Buckeyes ahead again 30 seconds after Hutson's goal, only for Matt Copponi to tie the game 12 seconds after. Ultimately, the teams entered the locker rooms tied at 3, BU outshooting Ohio State 13-11 in the second.

But in the third period, the Terriers put the Buckeyes away. This time it was permanent. They scored five goals in the third, beginning with Aiden Celibrini at 2:18 and ending with Cole Hutson at 19:30. Among that onslaught, Eiserman scored his second of the game on a nasty backhanded shot from behind the goalline to make it 6-3.

It was an offensive onslaught the Buckeyes couldn't keep up with, and it won the Terriers the game. Now, they'll have to prepare for the winner of Michigan St. versus Cornell. That game will take place on Mar 29. The time of puckdrop has yet to be announced.