Final, Boston College 4-1: That’s all she wrote, as Boston College has won its fifth straight Beanpot title.
This one was a lot closer than the score indicated, but the Eagles are champions once again, and the Northeastern drought will last at least one more year.
Third period, 19:15, Boston College 4-1: Patrick Brown just added another goal for good measure, and BC is now leading 4-1.
Third period, 18:46, Boston College 3-1: That should do it.
Johnny Gaudreau just intercepted a pass in the neutral zone, and put it in from just beyond the red line.
Third period, 18:29, Boston College 2-1: Northeastern has struggled to generate much of anything since the BC go-ahead goal, and we’re obviously getting to desperate times for the Huskies.
They just burned their timeout with an offensive zone faceoff coming. They are vacating the net for the extra skater as well.
Third period, 14:30, Boston College 2-1: Boston College has taken the lead once again.
BC captain Patrick Brown might end up being the hero, as he was able to tip in a shot to give the Eagles the 2-1 lead. Brown was actually on his back on the ice as he tipped the Isaac MacLeod shot from the point by Witt.
Third period, 14:19, 1-1: Boston College is really starting to up the pressure on Northeastern, but Clay Witt continues to impress.
The latest BC scoring chance came off the stick of Destry Straight. The fourth-line winger maneuvered into the offensive zone and eventually got a backhanded shot on goal, but Witt kicked it aside to keep the game tied.
Third period, 10:50, 1-1: Kevin Hayes just had another scoring chance for BC.
He absolutely rifled a slap shot from the left wing that whistled just wide and then around the boards and out of the zone. That didn’t miss by much, though.
Third period, 9:10, 1-1: Northeastern just turned the puck over in its own zone against Boston College’s top line, and the Huskies lived to tell about it.
The defensive zone turnover gave Kevin Hayes a golden opportunity at the top of the slot, but his slap shot went right into the stomach of Northeastern goalie Clay Witt.
Third period, 5:04, 1-1: Once again, Northeastern is unable to take advantage of the power play.
The Boston College power play just did a fine job of limiting the Northeastern chances, as the Huskies weren’t able to get much of anything in way of chances on that man-advantage.
Third period, 2:55, 1-1: Northeastern is getting another power play.
Danny Linnell was just called for tripping, and the Huskies get the man-advantage.
Third period, 2:30, 1-1: Thatcher Demko continues to come up big for Boston College.
He just stopped Mike Szmatula as the Northeastern forward split two BC defensemen and then put a shot on net. Demko was able to make the pad save, though, and the game remains tied.
Third period, 0:49, 1-1: It didn’t take long for Northeastern to get a scoring chance.
Torin Snydeman beat the Boston College defense back in a chase for a loose puck, and he was able to get a semi-breakaway. Snydeman was stoned by Thatcher Demko, however, and the game remains tied.
Third period, 0:01, 1-1: The third period is underway.
End second period, 1-1: That’s the end of the second period, and we have a doozy thus far.
The game is all tied 1-1 after John Stevens’ goal late in the period.
Second period, 18:36, 1-1: We have a tie hockey game.
Kevin Roy was able to get free in the slot where he put a shot on goal that Thatcher Demko was able to make a kick save on. Unfortunately for the BC goalie, he kicked it to John Stevens who was following the play on the right wing. Stevens was able to backhand it by Demko to tie the game.
Second period, 16:40, Boston College 1-0: Clay Witt continues to have a tremendous game.
The Northeastern goalie just made a shoulder save on Johnny Gaudreau, and then was able to make a save on a rebound chance from Quinn Smith. Just a few seconds after that, Witt made a save on Michael Matheson from the right point. The puck deflected up in the air, and Witt paddled it to the boards to avoid trouble.
Second period, 13:00, Boston College 1-0: Zach Aston-Reese just had what looked to be a great chance.
Following the play, he took a pass as he slid in on the left wing, but his shot was blocked and deflected over the net, and Northeastern’s hunt for their first goal continues.
Second period, 8:00, Boston College 1-0: The helter-skelter play continues, and Boston College was the one with the latest scoring chance.
Patrick Brown intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and was able to get deep into the Northeastern zone while carrying the puck. He wasn’t able to get a shot on net, but the puck trickled into the slot. Ryan Fitzgerald did everything he could to get to the puck, but he couldn’t beat the Northeastern defense to the slot, and the Huskies narrowly avoided damage.
Second period, 4:44, Boston College 1-0: Northeastern is getting its chances so far, that’s for sure.
Mike Szmatula just had the latest scoring opportunity when a Mike Gunn shot got deflected in front of the net, and Szmatula, who was trailing the play, was there to try and put home the second chance. With an opening on the right post, he hit the side of the post and net. The puck deflected back into the crease, but Thatcher Demko jumped on it and covered the puck.
Second period, 0:01, Boston College 1-0: The second period is underway.
End first period, Boston College 1-0: Clay Witt just came up with another sensational save in the final seconds of the first period.
Kevin Hayes was sprung on a breakaway and walked in all alone, but Witt put the pads together and made another huge save to keep it a one-goal game. He had to make a couple of real big saves in the first period to keep Northeastern in it.
Despite that, they head to the dressing room trailing 1-0.
First period, 17:00, Boston College 1-0: Clay Witt is putting on a clinic, despite trailing by a goal.
He just robbed Ryan Fitzgerald as the BC forward tried to redirect a puck into a seemingly wide-open net from the slot. However, Witt came across the crease and got a blocker on it to make the save.
First period, 14:00, Boston College 1-0: Clay Witt just made a save that we might look back on a little later and say “That was a big save.”
The Northeastern goalie just had Johnny Gaudreau walking in on him down the slot with a wide-open shooting lane. Gaudreau tried to go five-hole, but Witt made the save, and the Huskies were able to clear the crease.
First period, 12:13, Boston College 1-0: Once again, BC is able to kill off the penalty.
That was a much better power play for Northeastern, however, as the Huskies were able to generate a couple of chances in front, but Thatcher Demko stood tall to preserve the early lead.
First period, 10:13, Boston College 1-0: Northeastern is getting another power play.
Brendan Silk just picked up a holding penalty, and the Huskies will attempt to right the ship on the man-advantage.
First period, 8:40, Boston College 1-0: Boston College just opened the scoring, and naturally, it was the Eagles’ top line doing the damage.
Johnny Gaudreau found winger Kevin Hayes barreling down the slot, and put the puck right on his stick. Hayes then one-timed it by Clay Witt, beating the goalie five-hole for the game’s first goal.
First period, 8:30, 0-0: Boston College killed off the penalty, and the game is back to even strength.
First period, 6:21, 0-0: It appeared as if Northeatern had scored the game’s first goal.
Ryan Belonger followed the play into the zone and was there to jump on a loose puck in the slot. However, Tanner Pond went spilling into BC goalie Thatcher Demko as Belonger was gathering the puck. As Belonger found the back of the net, Pond was knocking over Demko.
The goal was immediately waved off.
Northeastern will get a power play out of the whole ordeal, though. Michael Matheson was called for interference on the play.
First period, 3:30, 0-0: Quinn Smith just had a chance to put Boston College in front early in the first.
The BC winger gathered a loose puck in the left faceoff circle and threw it toward net with Northeastern goalie Clay Witt sprawled out in the crease. The puck ended up going right through the crease, however, and the game remains scoreless.
First period, 0:01, 0-0: And we’re off.
7:30 p.m.: We’re about 15 mines away from faceoff as the crowd here at TD Garden continues to file in.
Here are the starting lineups for both clubs.
Boston College
Forwards: Quinn Smith — Michael Sit — Brendan Silk
Defensemen: Isaac MacLeod — Steve Santini
Goalie: Thatcher Demko
Northeastern
Forwards: Zach Aston-Reese — Mike Szmatula — Torin Snydeman
Defensemen: Mike Gunn — Josh Manson
Goalie: Clay Witt
6:30 p.m.: The Northeastern University men’s hockey team has been here before — a few times recently, even. On Monday night, they’ll attempt to bring the Beanpot back to Huntington Ave. for the first time since 1988.
The Huskies are back in the Beanpot final, and they’ll take on Boston College in the championship game on Monday at TD Garden. This will mark the third time since 2009 that Northeastern and BU have met in the finals with the Eagles coming away victorious each time. In fact, if Jerry York’s bunch can topple Northeastern once again in this year’s installment of the tournament, it will mark the Eagles’ fifth straight Beanpot title.
Something has to give, and this time around, the Beanpot final will be a matchup of two of the nation’s best teams. Boston College comes in as the the country’s hottest team. The Eagles have assumed the No. 1 spot in the national poll, and they’re 13-0-1 in their last 14 games. The Huskies, meanwhile, enter as the No. 12 team in the country. They will, however, be looking to avenge a loss their last time out. The Huskies dropped a 3-0 home decision to UMass on Friday night, an ugly loss that certainly doesn’t give Northeastern a ton of momentum coming into Monday’s tilt.
That shouldn’t be a huge issue, though. Once again, Northeastern has a chance to win its first Beanpot since 1988 and they’re in as good of a position as they could be to do so. Now all they have to do is take down the best team in the country.
Puck drop from the Garden was originally scheduled for 7:30 p.m., but the game will now start at 7:45 p.m. after Harvard defeated Boston University in the consolation game.
Photo via Twitter/@GoNUmhockey
