End of Third Period, BC wins 3-1: Johnny Gaudreau scores an empty-net goal to clinch a 3-1 victory for Boston College over rivals Boston University.
BC will play Northeastern in the Beanpot final on Monday, Feb. 10 at TD Garden.
Third Period, 18:20, BC 2-1: O’Connor has been pulled for the extra attacker.
Third Period, 15:00, BC 2-1: BC has settled down and is starting to spend a lot more time in the attacking zone. The Eagles have a 28-24 shot advantage.
Third Period, 10:50, BC 2-1: Some pushing and shoving prior to a faceoff causes a scrum between the two teams. No penalties were called. The intensity level has risen dramatically in the last few minutes.
Third Period, 9:10, BC 2-1: BC comes up with a huge penalty kill and we’re back to even strength.
That goal has really given some energy to BU. For the first time all night there’s a sense among the crowd that the Terriers have a chance to win this game.
Shots are even 24-24.
Third Period, 6:10, BC 2-1: Terriers forward Dillon Lawrence goes hard to the net and draws a tripping penalty on Matheson. BU is going on the power play.
Third Period, 6:40, BC 2-1: BU has cut the BC lead to one as Terriers forward Robbie Baillargeon’s shot from the point finds its way past Demko through traffic in front of the net.
Danny O’Regan was credited with an assist.
Third Period, 4:10, BC 2-0: BU forced a turnover in the attacking zone and some nifty passing created an open net for two Terriers forwards but neither one could find the open net. Demko covered the puck after it hit the right post. Some horrible luck for BU on a golden chance to trim BC’s lead.
Third Period, 3:33, BC 2-0: BC captain Patrick Brown had a great chance during that BU power play. He blocked a shot and skated down the ice on a 2-on-1 rush and decided to shoot instead of pass across. O’Connor made a tremendous save.
Then Gaudreau dangled a BU defenseman after stealing the puck at center ice, but his 360-degree spin and shot was saved by O’Connor. It was a highlight-reel rush by the Eagles’ top scorer.
Third Period, 1:22, BC 2-0: Arnold has taken a minor penalty for holding. BU is going on another power play.
Third Period, 0:01, BC 2-0: The final period is underway.
End of Second Period, BC 2-0: Here are some second-period stats.
Shots: BC 20-19
Blocked Shots:Â 8-8
BC is 16-0-1 when leading after 2 periods. BU is 0-10-0 when trailing after two periods.
End of Second Period, BC, 2-0
Second Period, 19:49, BC 2-0: BC kills off the penalty and we’re back to even strength.
Second Period, 17:10, BC 2-0: BU is going back on the power play. BC defenseman Isaac MacLeod has gone to the penalty box.
Second Period, 17:10, BC 2-0: BU has created two odd-man rushes short-handed, including a 2-on-1 scoring chance that ended with a great save by Demko.
A poor line change created a rare 4-on-1 opportunity for the Eagles, but BU hustled back and broke up the play with a diving block at the left faceoff dot.
The intensity has picked up as the period winds down. Both teams recognize the importance of the next goal.
Second Period, 11:33, BC 2-0: Hayes was drilled into the boards outside the penalty box and took a few minutes to get up. It was a dangerous hit by BU defenseman Doyle Somerby, one that slammed Hayes’ head into the wall. Somerby was given a 5-minute major penalty for checking from behind and the Eagles are going on their second power play.
There was also matching roughing penalties, so we’ll skate 4-on-3 for two minutes, then BC will have a three-minute 5-on-4 power play.
Second Period, 10:00, BC 2-0: BC is dominating possession and its quick passing is opening up shooting lanes in the attacking zone. The cycle game is also helping the Eagles maintain the puck below the goal line.
BU has a 13-10 shot advantage.
Second Period, 6:50, BC 2-0: BC kills off the penalty. BU registered two shots on goal and is 0-for-2 with the man advantage.
The Eagles entered the game with a 91.8 percent success rate on the penalty kill, which leads Hockey East.
Second Period, 4:49, BC 2-0: BU is going on the power play for the second time. BC defenseman Mike Matheson is in the box for interference.
BU is 0-for-1 on the power play so far.
Second Period, 4:38, BC 2-0: With an assist on Hayes’ goal, Gaudreau has a 22-game point streak.
BU has an 11-8 shot advantage so far.
Second Period, 2:27, BC 2-0: BC has doubled its lead with a goal from Kevin Hayes. Eagles forward Bill Arnold fed Hayes with a sweet cross-crease pass to his linemate, who had a wide open net to target. It’s Hayes’ 20th goal of the season. Arnold and Johnny Gaudreau picked up assists.
Just after the goal, the two teams had a scrum in front of O’Connor and no penalties were called despite a few slashes.
Second Period, 0:01, BC 1-0: The puck has been dropped.
End of First Period, BC 1-0: Here are some first-period stats.
Shots: BU 10-5
Blocked Shots: BC 5-4
Power Play: BC 1-for-1, BU 0-for-1
When leading after the first period this season, BC is 11-0-2.
End of First Period, BC 1-0: BU had some sustained offensive zone pressure in the final two minutes of the period but a few right-pad saves from BC goalie Thatcher Demko kept them scoreless.
First Period, 18:20, BC 1-0: BU generated some momentum from its power play but it hasn’t been creating any Grade A scoring chances. BC’s defense is doing a great job clogging the slot and keeping BU on the perimeter.
First Period, 15:20, BC 1-0: BC has killed off the penalty and we’re back to even strength.
First Period, 13:13, BC 1-0: BU is going on its first power play of the game. BC forward Adam Gilmour has gone to the penalty box for slashing.
First Period, 10:30, BC 1-0: BU is 1-8-0 this season when trailing first.
First Period, 10:30, BC 1-0: BC has controlled play for most of the game. The Eagles are spending a ton of time in the attacking zone and their quick breakouts are creating several odd-man rushes. Shots are even at 4-4.
First Period, 6:20, BC 1-0: O’Connor makes another amazing save on a 2-on-1 BC scoring chance, this time with the right pad. BU has a 1-0 shot advantage.
First Period, 4:04, BC 1-0: The Eagles have taken the lead with a power-play goal. BC defenseman Teddy Doherty fired a cross ice pass from the right point to the left faceoff circle and BC forward Ryan Fitzgerald shot a one-timer high glove side past O’Connor.
The Eagles are 14-0-1 when scoring first this season.
First Period, 3:51, 0-0: BC is getting its first power play. BU defenseman Patrick MacGregor is off to the box for tripping.
First Period, 3:21, 0-0: BC defenseman Steve Santini delivers a huge hit on BU forward Mike Moran along the boards and Moran almost goes into the BC bench. It gets the crowd fired up.
Quinn Smith’s shot off a 2-on-1 scoring chance is stopped by O’Connor with a remarkable glove save. BU has a 3-1 shot advantage.
First Period, 0:01, 0-0: The puck has been dropped and we’re underway.
8:25 p.m.: Starting lineups for both teams are below.
Boston College
Forwards: Quinn Smith–Michael Sit–Brendan Silk
Defensemen: Isaac MacLeod–Steve Santini
Goaltender: Thatcher Demko
Boston University
Forwards: Matt Lane–Cason Hohmann–Nick Roberto
Defensemen: Garrett Noonan–T.J. Ryan
Goaltender: Matt O’Connor
8:00 p.m.: Both teams have taken the ice for warmups.
7:52 p.m.: Boston College and Boston University are scheduled to drop the puck at approximately 8:30 p.m. ET.
7:47 p.m.: Northeastern advanced to the Beanpot final with an impressive 6-0 victory over Harvard. Special teams was the difference in the game as the Huskies dominated on the power play. Northeastern goalie Clay Witt was fantastic in net.
3:45 p.m. ET: Before the Boston Bruins welcome the Vancouver Canucks to town on Tuesday, the TD Garden will play host to the 2014 Beanpot tournament with two semifinal matchups Monday night.
Boston College is playing for its fifth consecutive Beanpot title, and its defense will begin at 8:00 p.m. ET against arch-rival Boston University. The winner will play Northeastern or Harvard in the Beanpot title game on Feb. 10.
The Terriers are struggling this season with an 8-14-3 record (3-8-2 in Hockey East) and have lost both previous meetings with the Eagles (19-4-3; 12-1-1 HE) in 2013-14. A win would certainly help BU gain some momentum for a late-season charge and the best possible seed in the conference tournament.
Boston College is ranked No. 2 in the nation and boasts the top scoring (3.86 goals/game) and defensive squad (2.04 goals against average) in Hockey East. Top-line winger Johnny Gaudreau leads Division 1 with 51 points in 26 games.
Check back at 8:00 p.m. ET for live score updates, analysis and news from the BU-BC semifinal, and be sure to follow Zack Cox’s live blog of Northeastern-Harvard beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Photo via Twitter.com/JustinBerlPhoto
