BOSTON - Chris Higgins scored the go-ahead goal with less than one second left in the second period as No. 2 Boston University defeated Maine 4-1 Saturday at Agganis Arena.

Higgins' shot crossed the goal line as time expired, and after the play was reviewed, officials ruled that the goal was scored with .8 (eight-tenths) seconds left and stood, giving the Terriers a 2-1 lead going into the second.

Chris Connolly scored two goals and Brandon Yip scored for BU (14-4-1, 7-4-1 Hockey East). Robby Dee scored the lone goal for Maine (10-8-2, 5-6-1), which put 16 shots on goal and only three in the third period.

Maine goalie Scott Darling made 22 saves, while BU goalie Kieran Millan made 15 saves.

Three stars:
1. Chris Connolly, BU
2. Chris Higgins, BU
3. Brandon Yip, BU

***

Don't expect the Maine lineup to look the same next weekend. Maine Coach Tim Whitehead shuffled once, and he said after a 4-1 loss to BU that he won't hesitate to shuffle the lineup again, given the Black Bears are winless in their past four games. Entering Saturday's game, the Black Bears were in sixth place in Hockey East with 11 points, one point ahead of UMass-Lowell and two ahead of Massachusetts.

"We've got to keep trying different guys in key situations," Whitehead said. "We're not playing at our very best yet on a consistent basis.

"I really didn't like how we played. But BU was a big reason for that because they play great defense. I thought they did a great job defending and as a result, they were able to get the counter opportunities. It was a combination of us not being sharp enough in the neutral zone, and they defended well, forced us to turn it over and they ended up capitalizing."

Probably the most notable scratch tonight was co-captain Jeff Marshall, who watched from the stands for the first time since Maine's season opener in Alaska in October.

"We're going to play the players that play well," Whitehead said. "Jeff had a tough game (against UNH) and he's had a tough couple games in a row and we're a young club and we've got to put out the guys who are performing the best. We're going to continue to recognize good performances. Hopefully the next one is his and he stays in. He's a tough competitor and we need him in the lineup."

The players aren't anticipating a static lineup, either.

"It shows how, every day, you've got to bring it as hard as you can," said Robby Dee, who scored Maine's lone goal. "If you screw up and you don't do what you're supposed to do, you won't play. That just shows you how you need to work."

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Whitehead put BU's go-ahead goal in perspective. Higgins scored with .8 seconds left in the period when he picked up Scott Darling's clearing attempt and beat the freshman goalie out of position.

"It was a freshman mistake," Whitehead said. "He's been tremendous for us. He makes one mistake and meanwhile every guy on the team makes one mistake. Unfortunately, he's had some tough luck where, he makes a mistake and it ends up in the net. That was unfortunate. I felt for him there. The clock was ticking off and he thought that if he shoveled it to the corner … and it ends up going right to their guy, of course, and it's in. But that was a tough goal to give up."

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