The only mismatches in Hockey East are on paper.

The first-place Boston University Terriers needed an overtime goal by Jeremy Wilmer at 1:18 of the extra frame to earn a 4-3 victory over last-place Northeastern on Tuesday night at Agganis Arena.

“I thought he (Wilmer) was excellent all night and I felt he should be out there in that situation and it paid off,” said BU coach Jay Pandolfo.

The No.2 ranked Terriers improved to 13-4-1 and 8-1-1 in Hockey East and will resume conference play at home against New Hampshire on Saturday. NU fell to 6-10-2 and 1-9-0 in the league and will play back-to-back home games against Vermont on Friday and Saturday.

“I think we’ve seen it all year long how good Hockey East is and how competitive it is,” said Pandolfo. “Northeastern had a ton of injuries early on, they are really good hockey team and you saw tonight.

“Down the stretch there are no easy games, there is competition every night and UNH coming in here on Saturday is another tough contest.”

The three Terriers who competed in the IIHF World Junior Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden – sophomore defenseman Lane Hutson (U.S.), freshman defenseman Tom Willander (Sweden) and freshman center Macklin Celebrini (Canada) – were back in uniform and contributed. Hutson had a goal and two assists, while Celebrini had a goal and an assist.

NU goalie Cameron Whitehead (36 saves) held up under flurry of activity and quality scoring chances generated by the Terriers in the opening 10 minutes of the first period.

The Terriers broke the deadlock at 15:07 when Celebrini fed the puck along the end boards to Wilmer. The sophomore left wing circled in front and fed the puck though the crease to graduate center Sam Stevens, who one-timed in his third tally of the season. The Terriers exited the frame with a 15-6 advantage in shots on goal.

“We weren’t playing fast enough in the first period and we weren’t moving our feet,” said NU coach Jerry Keefe. “We were chasing and there were times when we gave them extended O-zone time.”

NU right wing Gunnarwolfe Fontaine was stewing in the box for holding when Lane Hutson made it 2-0 with his ninth of the season at 2:35 of the second period. Hutson intercepted a clear and fired a wrist shot for the top of the right circle that beat Whitehead glove side.

NU made it 2-1 at 11:36 of the second on an unassisted goal by graduate left wing Brett Edwards that was awarded after a long review. With the momentum shifted, the Huskies tied the game 2-2 at 12:38. Defenseman Pito Walton fed center Justin Hryckowian at the near post and the Huskies’ captain he tucked it by BU goalie Mathieu Caron (24 saves) for his fourth of the season.

“I thought we let them back in the game with some costly mistakes in the second period,” said Pandolfo.

BU took a 3-2 lead on the power play at 6:43 of the third. Hutson fed Celebrini for a one-timer from the right circle for his 11th. NU tied the game at 7:48 on a wrist shot from the low slot by left wing Alex Campbell for his 10th. But outshot NU 39-25 at the end of regulation.

Boston University forward Macklin Celebrini celebrates his goal during BU’s 4-3 overtime win over Northeastern. (Staff Photo/Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)