Trying times have hit the Northeastern locker room.

Following Sunday’s 7-2 loss to Boston University, the third straight loss to the Terriers this season, NU coach Bruce Crowder entered the press room with a red face and a disgusted look.

The Huskies, who dropped their sixth straight Hockey East contest, scored just two goals all weekend, getting blanked 4-0 Saturday night at Matthews Arena as BU concluded the season sweep.

“I like our guys,” said Crowder. “We’re young and inexperienced, but I like our guys and I think we’re getting better.”

Whether or not NU is getting any better remains to be seen, but they certainly are scrappier. With a little over three minutes left, Brad Zancanaro crashed into goalie Keni Gibson after Gibson had come out to make a play and, according to Gibson, gave him a clothesline.

“It was kind of a gutless thing to do,” said Gibson. “It was a 6-2 game. He came in and clotheslined me. He’s a tough guy with a face mask on.”

Gibson then hit Zancanaro in the leg with his stick and Gibson’s mask was torn off by a third party right before Gibson was whacked in the head by a fourth.

The melee that ensued sent six Huskies and four Terriers to the penalty box and Gibson was sent to the showers.

“I did something uncharacteristic,” Gibson said. “Frustration got the best of me. The ref came over and told me that I was gone but I wasn’t going to be suspended.”

Gibson then skated away from the net toward the tunnel. His face met those from the Terrier student fan section and Gibson pumped his fists.

“Coach was mad at me for doing that,” said Gibson. “He told me that this wasn’t junior hockey. I could have sucked it up and taken my licks.”

Crowder concurred.

“If you want to be a Keystone cop, that’s okay,” he said. “It’s like that hockey movie (Slap Shot). I don’t think anyone was doing a strip tease following [Gibson’s departure].”

Mike Ryan agreed.

“I think we were more embarrassed than anything else,” Ryan said. “Everyone’s playing with frustration right now. We’re frustrated with the [Hockey East] points. But we’ll practice and get a better idea of what’s going to happen.”

The Huskies lead Lowell by just three points in Hockey East for the final playoff spot. Lowell, which eliminated the Huskies in three thrilling contests last spring, hasn’t won a game this season, dropping all eight of their contests. NU, which is 1-8-1 in Hockey East, is currently looking to Merrimack, Providence (six points back) and Amherst (nine).

Frustration is mounting in the locker room.

“No one is saying but I’m thinking it,” said Gibson following Saturday’s 4-0 loss.

According to Noah Smith at the Hockey East office, the game tape was reviewed by Hockey East officials and it was determined that the calls that were made on the ice during the third period rhubarb will stand and no suspensions will be handed out.

Sunday, the Huskies were down 4-1 going into the third period, but could take solace knowing that their longest Hockey East goal drought had been diminished after going 205:24 without a goal.

“After six periods, you’d like to come out with more than two goals,” Crowder said. “It’s January and we should be playing well, but we’re getting better and by February, we’ll be good.”

NU was able to break their Hockey East scoreless streak when Mike Ryan ripped the puck from just inside the blue line to make it 4-1 in Sunday’s game. The Huskies later added another when Trevor Reschny tipped in following a loose puck in the left face of circle. The puck slipped past Sean Fields to make it 6-2 a game midway through the third period.

Northeastern now travels to No. 1 ranked Maine, where the Black Bears, fresh off a loss to the Providence Friars, still have games in hand with New Hampshire and Boston University.

When asked how the Huskies felt traveling to Orono following the BU losses, Crowder laughed and said, “What do you think?”

The Huskies haven’t won at UMaine since Feb. 5, 1998 when they beat the Black Bears 5-3 at Alfond Arena. Since then, the Huskies are 0-5-4 at Orono/Portland.

“Obviously it doesn’t get any easier going there,” Ryan said. “That’s a great place to play. I love playing there because the fans are into it. They have great fans and they love the game. I think it’s one of my favorite places to play. Plus, it will be good to get away from here for awhile and try and steal a couple of points.”