For fans that can’t make it into the Garden to watch the first-round action in person, Bud Light will be hosting four viewing parties for fans to gather and watch great hockey at.

Join the Bud Light team at either The North Star, The Greatest Bar, Sports Grille Boston or Sullivan’s Tap in Boston on Monday, Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m. to watch the Beanpot.

While there, fans have a chance to win tickets to the Beanpot and other greatprizes.

Must be 21 years or older.

Check out NESN.com’s live blog from the opening night of the 2013 Beanpot by clicking here >>

For fans that can’t make it into the Garden to watch the first-round action in person, Bud Light will be hosting four viewing parties for fans to gather at and watch great hockey.

Join the Bud Light team at either The North Star, Hurricane O’Reilly’s, Grand Canal or McGann’s in Boston on Monday, Feb. 4 at 5:30 p.m. to watch the Beanpot. While there, fans have a chance to win tickets to the Beanpot and other great Prizes.

Must be 21 years or older.

Starting at 6 p.m. ET at Roggie’s, fans will have the chance to win tickets and other great prizes from Bud Light. Fans can then watch the B’s battle the Islanders on one of the 18-plus flat-screen TVs. Bud Light, which presents NESN’s coverage of the 2013 Beanpot tournament, will be giving away tickets to the annual college hockey tournament.

Roggie’s has been highly regarded as a must-visit sports bar in Cleveland Circle. With TVs as far as the eye can see, breakfast served all day and one of the most extensive food menus in the Boston area, Roggie’s offers it all.

“Come see why Roggie’s is a staple of Boston and experience the best bar menu and sports bar in the Hub.”– Roggies.com

Must be 21 or over to participate. 

Boston University has historically dominated the Beanpot, but Boston College has enjoyed recent success, winning three straight titles.

This year's final, during which BC pulled out an overtime win over BU, was one of the more thrilling in recent memory. It was likely even more special for the team's seniors, including defenseman Tommy Cross, who has become a leader since arriving at Chestnut Hill.

Cross' teammates spoke glowingly of his leadership ability prior to the Beanpot final, stressing that they've known since his first season that he would ultimately become the team's captain.

To hear more, and to hear some of the players mic'd up for this year's Beanpot final, check out the video above.

Many Boston College hockey players will tell you that the Beanpot is one of the most exciting times of the year. In fact, a number of the players have compared Beanpot Monday to Christmas morning.

But even though it's hard to focus on anything else when the annual tournament arrives, the Eagles still know that you can't let emotions get the best of you. They admit that's easier said than done, but if emotions aren't kept in check, it could have adverse effects once the puck is dropped.

To hear more, check out the video above, which includes footage of NESN's day with the BC hockey team in advance of this year's Beanpot final.

Tommy Cross and the Boston College Eagles put a lot of hard work and effort into their game preparations. And when it comes to the Beanpot, their attention to detail is even greater.

NESN followed Cross and some of the hockey team's other players around on the day of the Beanpot final to see what a day in their life is like. It's clear that their schedules are jam-packed given the number of obligations they each have between school and hockey.

The players do manage to find some time to have a little fun, though, which they usually do together. For an inside look at BC's Beanpot preparations, and a glimpse at a typical day for the players, check out the video above.

Boston College defenseman Tommy Cross, a 2007 draft pick of the Bruins, could go on to play in even bigger games in Boston during his hockey career. But the Beanpot is still a special event, and it doesn't get much bigger in terms of college hockey.

Cross gave NESN an inside look at his Beanpot preparations and explained what he usually does on game days. From his morning omelette to attending class to calling his mother, NESN's cameras followed Cross around for the entire day leading up to the 60th Beanpot, which BC eventually won in thrilling fashion.

Check out the video above to see all of Cross' morning/afternoon game-day activities.

Jack Parker or Jerry York?

You certainly can't go wrong with either head coach, but if both were to make the leap to the NHL level, would you prefer the longtime BU leader or the man behind the BC bench?

That's one of the questions NESN.com's Ben Barker set out to have answered during Monday's BU-BC Beanpot final. He also asked fans what they think of the consolation game, and where the tournament stands in terms of sports' overall big picture.

Check out the video above to hear what fans had to say.

Boston University and Boston College entered Monday's Beanpot final ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in the nation, respectively. But even their jockeying in the national rankings this season doesn't hold a candle to the excitement we're typically exposed to when these two teams meet up in the annual tournament.

Prior to Monday night's championship showdown, each of the last eight head-to-head Beanpot matchups between BU and BC were decided by one goal, with four of those contests needing more than 60 minutes to settle. Of those eight games, five came with the Beanpot title on the line.

But one could argue that Monday's see-saw battle, from which Boston College emerged victorious, was the best of them all. After all, it met all of the above criteria.

"BU played an outstanding hockey game," BC head coach Jerry York said after the win. "I thought we came right back with the same attitude to our team, so that was college hockey at its finest. We're both ranked in the top five in the country, so we kind of expect that. And then with the rivalry between the two schools, it had all the makings of a classic college hockey game and it unfolded just like that."

A classic indeed.

The game's first tally came after BC saw freshman Quinn Smith get sent off for boarding at 7:38 of the first period. But just as they did last week, the Eagles showed they can still be dangerous when playing a man down, as Pat Mullane got BC on the board with Smith still in the box.

The two teams then traded power-play goals in the second period before Garrett Noonan's second goal of the night (11th of the season) pulled the Terriers even with just 13 minutes left in regulation.

With neither team able to capitalize down the stretch, the game required an extra period, and looked poised for a second overtime.

Bill Arnold had other plans.

The sophomore took a feed from junior Steven Whitney, and ripped a wrist shot past BU goaltender Kieran Millan for the game-winner, handing Boston College its third straight Beanpot title.

"I'm in the clouds right now," Arnold said of his title-clinching goal. "You dream about this as a kid and you never really expect it to happen, so this is unbelievable."

A native of Needham, Mass., Arnold grew up watching the Beanpot and rooting for BC, so he firmly understands the importance of the annual tournament in the Boston-area. And while the event will always remain popular locally, Monday's Garden thriller served as the latest example of just how competitive the tournament remains, and how it's possible for the tourney to still reach new heights even though it just blew out its 60th birthday candle.

"Over the last few years, people have talked about, 'Has the Beanpot kind of lost its luster?' 'How are the crowds?' and 'Where is college hockey in the Boston area?' Well tonight was a statement," York said. "That place was jammed with fans of college hockey, whether they're associated with BU or BC or Harvard or Northeastern, I think the Beanpot's in good hands. It has been for a long time, and it's going to continue, especially with that type of hockey game tonight."

York may not have been referring directly to BC when he said the Beanpot is in good hands, but his team's fingerprints are the only ones to be all over it for three straight years. BC's six seniors haven't lost a Beanpot game since their first, when the Eagles fell to Northeastern, 6-1, in the first round in 2009.

Defenseman Tommy Cross, one of those six seniors and a 2007 draft pick of the Boston Bruins, is relishing the success. But he isn't ready to discredit anything any of the other three participating schools bring to the table annually.

"I don't know if it's that BC is taking over the Beanpot. I don't think that's the case," Cross said. "Last year was overtime, this year was overtime. I think it just speaks to the level of play of the four schools in Boston. Every game's tough, whether it's the first round or whether it's the finals. BU's got a great hockey team, BC's got a great hockey team. The level of play, certainly this year, it gets better every year. It speaks to our program, but also the other programs in the Beanpot."

Next season, BC will look to become the first school to win four Beanpot titles in a row since BU won six in a row from 1995 to 2000.

If the recent trend holds true, it won't be easy. Then again, is it ever? The level of competitiveness is what allows the Beanpot to maintain its luster after all these years. It's not simply a matter of which hands the famous trophy ends up in. It's a matter of how it gets there.

And this year's incredible final, during which the trophy seemingly switched hands 10 different times in a one-hour period, shows why the event remains an intriguing one for even the most casual hockey fan.

But that didn't stop York from looking outside the university for a spark prior to Monday's Beanpot championship showdown with Boston University.

Enter Terry Francona.

York invited the former Red Sox manager to speak to the Eagles on Feb. 7, a day after BC dismantled Northeastern to reach the Beanpot final for the third straight year. Francona ended up dropping by, and York noted before Monday's game that he felt like the former Boston skipper's message really hit home for the players in the BC locker room.

"We had Terry Francona in last week to talk to our team and he was outstanding, just outstanding," York said before Monday's game against BU. "He talked about energy level and I think that is something we had been stressing.

"But all of a sudden Terry mentioned it and you could see it had [an impact]."

York said Francona also discussed the Red Sox locker room, and how second baseman Dustin Pedroia, in particular, would brighten it up and challenge everyone to become a better teammate. That's something York would like to see out of his players down the stretch, and it started on Monday night on the TD Garden ice.

The Eagles were able to prevail with 6.4 seconds remaining in overtime of a thrilling game that saw BC give up leads on two separate occasions, including one lead 7:12 into the third period.

Before the game, it was York's opinion that Francona's message was well-received by his players. After watching his players battle on Monday night, it was obvious.

For that reason, the BC coach was quick to once again bring up the importance of Francona's visit while addressing the media following the championship win.

"I thought Terry Francona was terrific, he came in and spoke with us. And he mentioned the fact that to win a game, you can't rely on superstitions and luck," York said. "You have to rely on our energy level and good players."

The Eagles showed on Monday night that they have a perfect combination of both, something both York and Francona can be proud of.

Final, Boston College 3-2:

The Eagles spill onto the ice to celebrate the win that gives BC its third consecutive Beanpot title.

Millan wins the award for the tournament’s top goaltender, while freshman Johnny Gaudreau wins the tournament’s most valuable player award.

BC’s win marks the Eagles’ third straight Beanpot title. And what an amazing victory this one was. If you’re a fan of hockey, you have to appreciate the competitiveness of this game, as each team had its chances in overtime.

Don’t be surprised if these two teams meet again with bigger things on the line in a few weeks.

Overtime, 17:36, 2-2: Wade Megan tried to sneak a backhander top shelf past Milner, but it went wide. Back down the other end, meanwhile, BC’s Pat Mullane — who scored the Eagles’ first goal — nearly slipped one through Millan’s fie-hole, but the BU goalie was able to close the gap just in time.

Overtime, 15:00, 2-2: Both teams are trading scoring chances here in a fast-paced, see-saw overtime. BC has had the superior chances, but BU has come on with some opportunities on its own in the last few minutes.

Matt Nieto threw one on Milner from the doorstop, but Milner was able to corrall it and cover it up for a face-off.

Overtime, 10:30, 2-2: Top-line center Bill Arnold was booted from the face-off circle prior to the last draw, but Steven Whitney was able to win it back. Whitney then charged for the net, nearly screening Millan enough to cause some havoc.

Overtime, 8:42, 2-2: It has been non-stop, end-to-end action here in OT, with each goaltender doing his part to ensure his team emerges victorious. We’ve got a truly thrilling hockey game on our hands at TD Garden.

Milner stopped a slap shot by Ross Gaudet. And just seconds later, Millan nabbed one out of thin air for a face-off.

Overtime, 7:14, 2-2: Wow! BU goalie Kieran Millan has made some fantastic saves to keep BU’s Beanpot title hopes alive.

He stopped a 3-on-1 earlier in the extra period. Then, just moments ago, he made an amazing glove save on a drive by Brian Dumoulin.

Overtime, 2:00, 2-2: A couple of nice saves by the two goaltenders in the opening minute of overtime. BU’s Kieran Milan stared down a bid from Steven Whitney, but Whitney’s drive went just to the right of the net.

End third period, 2-2: Free hockey! The 60th Beanpot will be decided in overtime!

Third period, 19:04, 2-2: Under a minute!

Third period, 18:53, 2-2: What a game we’ve got brewing. Wade Megan let go a blistering slap shot with just over a minute left, but Milner stopped it and we remain tied.

Third period, 15:57, 2-2: NESN.com’s own Mike Cole sent me an e-mail before the start of the third period saying this game has overtime written all over it. He’s about four minutes away from being the smartest man alive.

Third period, 15:02, 2-2: BU nearly caught BC in a full line change. Nicastro tried to push it up ahead to Cason Hohmann, but it was just out of the reach of Hohmann’s stick. As Hohmann tumbled to the ice, the Eagles touched the puck up for icing, setting up a face-off in BU’s zone.

Third period, 12:29, 2-2: A drive by Tommy Cross is batted down before reaching the net, but that marks the best bid for either team in the last minute and a half. Following an icing, we’ll have a face-off in the BU zone.

Third period, 10:43, 2-2: Fantastic glove save by Kieran Millan keeps this game tied!

Third period, 9:47, 2-2: BU defenseman Ryan Ruikka is caught tripping Chris Kreider along the end boards, and BC will go up a man with under 11 minutes left to play in regulation.

Third period, 7:30, 2-2: Garrett Noonan’s second goal of the game ties things up here in the third period. It’s a power-play tally, and it comes with the Terriers holding at two-man advantage. They’ll remain on the power play when play resumes.

Nice effort by Chiasson, who receives an assist after breaking his stick and being forced to go to the bench for a new twig.

Third period, 6:30, BC 2-1: It’ll be a two-man advantage for BU, as Steven Whitney is slapped with a high-sticking penalty and Paul Carey is hit with a boarding call.

BU head coach Jack Parker will use his timeout to talk this one over. The face-off will take place in BC’s zone.

Third period, 15:46, BC 2-1: Fasten your seat belts. We could be in store for a wild end if the rest of this game is any indication.

Third period, 2:40, BC 2-1: Alex Chiasson led a nice rush into the attacking zone for the Terriers, which drew a loud response from the crowd. But Tommy Cross, a 2007 draft pick of the Bruins, was there to block it, sending the puck soaring over the boards and out of play.

Third period, 0:42, BC 2-1: Nice drop pass by BU’s Matt Nieto to linemate Alex Chiasson in the opening minute, but Milner was there for another nice stop.

9:28 p.m.: And the final 20 minutes — perhaps — are under way!

End second period, BC 2-1: BC will carry the lead and the momentum into the locker room after the late goal by Kreider.

Making matter worse for BU is that captain Chris Connolly was assessed a 10-minute misconduct for unsportsmanlike conduct following the goal.

Second period, 18:42, BC 2-1: The Eagles don’t let this power-play opportunity slip away.

Junior Chris Kreider took a beautiful centering pass from freshman Johnny Gaudreau, and then buried a wrist shot past Millan for the goal.

Second period, 18:12, 1-1: BC will go on another two-man advantage for 24 seconds as Sean Escobedo is hit with a cross-checking penalty.

Second period, 16:35, 1-1: Noonan’s elation has now given way to frustration, as the sophomore defenseman is tagged with a two-minute minor, giving BC yet another opportunity on the power play.

Second period, 15:11, 1-1: How many times do you see an admirable effort on the penalty kill translate into a big goal moments later?

That’s exactly what just happened for BU.

Following some stellar PK work, the Terriers got a power-play opportunity of their own. And after a nice, tape-to-tape pass, sophomore Garrett Noonan ripped a quick wrister past Milner on the stick side to tie the game up at 1.

Second period, 13:37, BC 1-0: Another nice job by the Terriers’ PK, and we’ll now skate 4-on-4 with BC’s Paul Carey getting slapped with a two-minute hitting-from-behind penalty.

BU may not only get out of this unscathed, but the Terriers could find themselves on the power play here momentarily.

Second period, 11:28, BC 1-0: Plenty of chances for BC with the two-man advantage, but BU stood tall defensively. The Terriers did a nice job of clogging up the passing lanes in deep and consistently keeping a man in the shooter’s face.

That’s the good news for BU. The bad news? Ryan Ruikka has been assessed a two-minute penalty, and BC will have another power play.

It’s also worth noting that Millan made a couple of nice stops, including a nice, glove save after the penalty had expired.

Second period, 9:44, BC 1-0: Huge opportunity for Boston College, as the Eagles will have a two-man advantage for nearly an entire two minutes. First, it was Garrett Noonan who went off, and seconds later, Chris Connolly went off for high sticking.

Second period, 9:25, BC 1-0: And the “safety school” chants commence. But hey, any education is good, right?

Either way, both goaltenders continue to play well in this one, especially Parker Milner of BC. He hasn’t been tested nearly as much as Kieran Millan, though. as the Eagles hold a 20-10 shot advantage through a period and a half.

Second period, 6:39, BC 1-0: Parker Milner is officially standing on his head tonight.

The BC netminder just made another fantastic stop, sprawling to his left as BU’s power play expires to rob both Chiasson and captain Chris Connolly.

Second period, 4:22, BC 1-0: BC junior Brian Dumoulin let go a point-blank blast, but it went for naught. Now, the Eagles will be forced to play down a man, as Michael Sit will head to the box for two minutes for holding.

It’s a golden opportunity for BU to knot this thing up. Then again, we saw what happened the last time BC went down a man. The game’s lone goal, of course, was a shorty off the stick of Pat Mullane.

Second period, 2:00, BC 1-0: The Internet was acting funny over here at the Garden during the first intermission, but I’ll do my best to keep you all up to speed.

Few notes from the first 20 minutes of action: BC outshot BU 15-9 in the opening frame.

The only goal came off the stick of Pat Mullane, and it was assisted by Chris Kreider.

End first period, BC 1-0: Defenseman Ryan Ruikka let go a blast with just over a minute to go, but again Milner was able to make a nice stop look easy.

After 20 minutes here at TD Garden, the Eagles remain on top, 1-0.

First period, 18:25, BC 1-0: BU was able to put together its best scoring chance of the game thus far, with sophomore Matt Nieto setting up junior Alex Chiasson out in front. BC goalie Parker Milner had nice positioning on it, though, cutting down Chiasson’s angle and giving him very little to work with.

Back down the other end, Bill Arnold threatened to put one on the board for BC, but Kieran was there for the stop.

First period, 14:41, BC 1-0: We’ll skate 4-on-4 once again, as BC’s Brian Dumoulin has been asssessed a two-minute minor for tripping.

First period, 13:57, BC 1-0: The Eagles will go on their first man advantage of the evening, as BU’s Wade Megan (one of last week’s heroes) goes off for two minutes.

First period, 13:00, BC 1-0: The Eagles threatened to put another one on the board via a 2-on-1, but Kevin Hayes’ centering pass couldn’t connect.

Millan has been forced to remain on his toes between the pipes here through the first half-period, a stark contrast from last week when the BU netminder was able to settle into a zone early.

We now have matching penalties coming up, with BC’s Steven Whitney and BU’s Max Nicastro both going off for two minutes for roughing.

You know what that means, folks: a lot of room for those skill players — and there’s plenty of them on both sides.

First period, 8:54, BC 1-0: We saw just how dangerous BC can still be while on the penalty kill during last week’s win over Northeastern, and the Eagles have done it again here in the final.

Junior Pat Mullane corralled an airborn puck and carried into the offensive zone while the Eagles tried to kill off the penalty to Smith. He then put it top shelf past Kieran Millan to give BC a 1-0 edge.

First period, 7:38, 0-0: We saw the consolation game get more physical as the game went on earlier, but this one has been physical from the get-go.

A scrum broke out in front of the net, with freshman Quinn Smith at the heart of it. Roughly a minute later, Smith has been sent off for boarding. BU will have the man advantage for two minutes.

First period, 6:44, 0-0: Nice cycling of the puck by BU in the offensive zone, but a big hit by BC senior Paul Carey sent the action the other way. The Eagles looked to create an odd-man rush, and Patrick Wey let go a blast from the left circle, but it sailed wide.

First period, 4:34, 0-0: BU had a nice 3-on-1 opportunity, which put everyone on their edge of their seats, but nothing came of it. BC has registered the only shot on net through the first four-plus minutes of this one.

First period, 1:54, 0-0: Both teams have come out with a lot of energy in the early going, much to the delight of those in attendance. BU netminder Kieran Millan, who played extremely well in last week’s opening round, makes a nice stop, giving us the game’s first whistle.

7:41 p.m.: We’re under way.

7:40 p.m.: Only drawback of indoor sporting events is the lack of a fly over. Here you go.

7:30 p.m.: The two teams have hit the ice, and the respective fan bases have started to try to drain each other’s chants out. Once again, everyone on BU “sucks,” according to the BC fans in attendance.

The TD Garden is filling out quite nicely, with the overwhelming majority of those in attendance rooting for BC, although there are still plenty of BU fans in the house.

7:10 p.m.: We’re about a half hour away from the opening face-off with No. 2 BU seeking its 30th Beanpot title in the tournament’s 60-year history. BC, meanwhile, is looking for its third straight Beanpot crown.

The Eagles will be rocking the gold jerseys, while the Terriers will sport the red and whites.

The place is starting to fill up a bit, as it has been since the closing moments of the consolation game. Both teams’ fans were very loud last week per usual, so the Garden could get a little wild here tonight.

Who is everyone pulling for in this one? Tyler Seguin already shared his thoughts, and he’s going with BU in this one. The Bruins forward was quick to note that it’s nothing against BC, though, as he just has a friend who plays for the Terriers.

Final, Harvard 3-2: Exciting end to the evening’s first game. The Huskies were able to work the puck back down to Harvard’s end, earning a face-off with just over 13 seconds to play.

They were then able to fire a few shots at the net, with two of the three sliding past the top of the crease. The Crimson were able to hold off the Huskies in the end, though, giving them a third-place finish for this year’s Beanpot.

Third period, 19:26, Harvard 3-2: Harvard’s empty-net bid hits the post. Northeastern’s still alive, but Witt will have to momentarily return to the net with the draw in Northeastern’s zone.

Third period, 19:00, Harvard 3-2: Northeastern is applying some pressure here late, with one bid sailing just over Michalek’s shoulder. There’s been very few whistles in the closing minutes, and the Huskies have pulled the goalie in an effort to score the equalizer.

Third period, 13:57, Harvard 3-2: And just like that, Northeastern answers back.

Following some traffic out in front of the Harvard net, sophomore Luke Eibler snuck the bouncing puck past Michalek for Northeastern’s second goal. It’s Eibler’s first goal of the season, and it makes this a one-goal game again.

Not a bad time for your first tally of the year.

Third period, 13:44, Harvard 3-1: So much for the Golden opportunity, as Harvard’s Luke Greiner scores shorthanded to extend Harvard’s lead to 3-1 with under seven minutes to play.

Third period, 12:13, Harvard 2-1: A fantastic save by Steve Michalek on a backhanded bid keeps Harvard in front. The Crimson will be forced to play down a man for two minutes, though, as David Valek goes off for roughing.

Golden opportunity for Northeastern.

Third period, 8:06, Harvard 2-1: Anthony Bitetto, who scored Northeastern’s lone goal last week versus BC, had a nice scoring opportunity near the left face-off circle, but it soared way wide of the net.

Meanwhile, it’s worth noting that Northeastern’s Clay Witt has played a pretty solid game between the pipes to keep this just a one-goal game.

Third period, 5:17, Harvard 2-1: In typical Beanpot fashion, things have grown more and more physical as we get deeper into this contest. Alex Fallstrom delivered a big shot for Harvard, but Northeastern’s Zak Stone provided one of his own just moments later.

Third period, 1:26, Harvard 2-1: A few tidbits to wrap up the second period as we get back to action here in the third and final frame. Harvard has outshot Northeastern 27-17, including 15-11 in the second.

In total, the Crimson have unleased 49 shots through two periods.

End second period, Harvard 2-1: The second period comes to an end. Harvard and Northeastern traded goals in the middle frame, with Alex Fallstrom’s goal putting the Crimson back on top late.

Northeastern seemed to pick up some momentum after scoring their lone goal in the second, but Fallstrom’s goal may have just swung the pendulum back in Harvard’s favor with 20 minutes to go.

Second period, 18:13, Harvard 2-1: Harvard has recaptured the lead.

Junior Alex Fallstrom unleashed a blistering wrister that beat Clay Witt stick side for the goal.

Freshman Tommy O’Regan and sophomore Dan Ford are credited with the assists. O’Regan’s helper is his second, as he also picked up an assist on Killorn’s first-period goal.

Second period, 17:12, 1-1: Some of the first real oohs and ahhs of the evening, as Steve Michalek makes a nice stop with the left pad.

Second period, 16:42, 1-1: The second period is motoring along here, with action going back and forth. The whistle finally blows with a face-off in Harvard’s end.

Second period, 14:49, 1-1: Harvard let go a number of shots from the point in the last few minutes in an effort to keep Clay Witt on his toes, but they all failed to land on net.

Freshman Colin Blackwell followed up with a nice chance on the doorstep, but Witt was able to deny him access to the twine.

Second period, 10:10, 1-1: Nice little scoring bid by Northeastern junior Garrett Vermeersch. Michalek was able to make the stop, but it sat in the crease momentarily until Danny Biega brushed it aside for the Crimson.

Second period, 8:39, 1-1: The Crimson kill off the penalty without any further damage. Northeastern has come alive in the second, though, and the pace is picking up a bit.

Second period, 5:45, 1-1: Harvard’s David Valek goes to the box for two minutes. We’ll see if Northeastern can keep its momentum going here while playing up a man.

Second period, 4:07, 1-1: It’s funny how games can go. After Harvard controlled the tempo again for the first four minutes of the second, upping their shot advantage to 17-7 in the process, Northeastern gets on the board on a fluky goal.

Junior Robbie Vrolyk threw a shot on net that hit off Michalek’s chest. It then trickled down and into the net, however, tying the score at 1 apiece. The goal is Vrolyk’s fifth of the season.

Second period, 2:46, Harvard 1-0: Harvard remains in control here to start the second period. A good scoring bid was denied in the opening 30 seconds, and the Crimson have done a good job of applying the pressure since.

End first period, Harvard 1-0: Killorn’s goal remains the only scoring in the game thus far, but Harvard has controlled the pace of the game. Michalek hasn’t really been tested in net by the Huskies except for a quick, two-shot barrage about midway through the first during a short man advantage.

Harvard, meanwhile, has been able to keep most of the action in their offensive zone, outshooting Northeastern 12-6 through 20 minutes.

First period, 17:02, Harvard 1-0: Harvard’s Eric Kroshus tries throw one on net via the backhand, but he’s not able to generate much force on it, and Witt covers it up.

First period, 11:44, Harvard 1-0: Ted Donato’s Harvard bunch scores first. It’s Alex Killorn that gets the Crimson on the board. It’s his 16th tally of the season.

Killorn showed great patience on the play, as he received the pass, and slowly crept in on the Northeastern goaltender while going to the backhand. He then brought it back to the forehand at the last second, and slid it past Witt for the goal.

First period, 9:25, 0-0: We’ll get some 4-on-4 action briefly, as senior Alex Killorn is sent to the box for Harvard. The Huskies will then enjoy a short power play once McLaughlin escapes the box.

First period, 8:04, 0-0: Make that two posts.

Just minutes after Ford clanked iron, freshman defenseman Patrick McNally hit the post on a wrister. Ford followed up with his second strong scoring chance of the game, but his shot sailed just to the right of the net.

Harvard’s blueliners are really playing well in the early going, minimizing Northeastern’s offensive attack, while also jumping up on the forecheck and providing the Crimson with some solid scoring chances.

Harvard will now go on the power play, marking the first man advantage for either team tonight. I’ts senior Mike McLaughlin that goes off for two minutes for holding.

First period, 3:50, 0-0: Not a lot of offense thus far, with a majority of the action taking place in the neutral zone.

Harvard sophomore Dan Ford did clank iron, though. He was set up for a one-timer by senior Eric Kroshus, but Ford’s bid just missed sneaking in on Witt’s glove side.

Northeastern’s Drew Ellement then nearly hit Robbie Vrolyk on a long pass, which would have set up a breakaway, but it was just out of the reach of the outstretched junior forward.

4:30 p.m.: And we’re under way. It’ll be Steve Michalek in net for Harvard. Northeastern counters with Clay Witt after Chris Rawlings got the start in the opening round.

4:15 p.m.: We’re about ready for this evening’s appetizer, in which Northeastern will take on Harvard in the consolation game. We’ve got about 15 minutes before face-off, though, so use the bathroom, get your snacks, do whatever it is you normally do. Then, check back here for all the craziness.

8 a.m. ET: While there’s more than bragging rights at stake for Monday’s Beanpot final between Boston College and Boston University, you can bet that the ability for the victor to gloat is enough for some of the students who will be in attendance.

These two schools make up perhaps the most storied rivalry in college hockey, and the Beanpot has long served as one of the biggest stages for it. BU — or “Beanpot U” as its become known as over the years because of its 29 Beanpot Tournament titles — is looking to return to glory, while BC enters Monday’s clash having won the tournament crown two years in a row.

In last Monday’s semifinal round, BU took down Harvard, 3-1, in the early game, and BC emerged victorious via a 7-1 rout over Northeastern in the later game.

Both BU and BC are once again enjoying fantastic seasons, as Terriers head coach Jack Parker and Eagles head coach Jerry York have again demonstrated why they’re among the best to ever coach college hockey.

The opening face-off for the Beanpot final will commence at 7:30 p.m.

Prior to that, though, Northeastern and Harvard will square off in the consolation game. The puck will drop at 4:30 p.m. in that showdown.

Follow all the action on NESN, and stay with NESN.com’s live blog throughout the day for continuous updates and the sort.

Because the probability of you correctly predicting whether it'll land on heads or tails — which we all know is an exact science — is also the probability that Boston University will bring home the highly sought after Beanpot in any given year, as the Terriers enter Monday's clash with the Boston College Eagles in search of their 30th title in the tournament's 60-year history.

But this particular showdown, which marks the 21st time the teams have battled in the final, is too close to call, with the only sense of clarity being that its ramifications extend well beyond tournament glory.

We've seen the momentum that a Beanpot win can generate in the past, with recent victors having gone on to enjoy success in the Hockey East and NCAA tournaments. But a glance at this week's USCHO.com national rankings offers further validation of this game's magnitude.

Boston University (17-9-1) and Boston College (18-10-1) check in at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, in the rankings as of Monday, trailing only Ferris State (Mich.). The two teams are also deadlocked for second in the Hockey East standings with 27 points, a point behind conference-leading UMass-Lowell.

With the Hockey East tournament set to kick off March 9 and the NCAA regionals beginning on March 23, the two teams are running out of opportunities to flex their muscle before the true championship grind begins.

BU was sitting atop USCHO.com's national rankings, barely edging out Minnesota for the distinction of No. 1, as they entered last Monday's opening-round matchup against Harvard. The Terriers took down the Crimson, 3-1, but struggled to carry that momentum into Agganis Arena on Friday, and fell to UMass, 3-2.

It was quite the opposite for Boston College, which built off its 7-1 rout of Northeastern last Monday to pick up a 6-1 victory over Vermont on Friday. The two wins catapulted BC up three spots in the rankings, with the Eagles even receiving more first-place votes than the Terriers.

As the two jockey for position from both a conference and a national standpoint, Monday's game could go a long way toward showing which team's more prepared for the big stage at the end of the season.

BU has taken two of the teams' three meetings thus far this season. The Terriers won 5-0 on Nov. 13 and 5-3 on Dec. 2, both in Chestnut Hill, while dropping a 6-1 decision to the Eagles in their own backyard on Dec. 3.

This year's crop of BC seniors knows a thing or two about thriving in the pressure-packed Beanpot tournament, though, which the Eagles hope translates into a slight edge on Monday despite the teams' close proximity in the rankings.

The sextet of BC seniors — Tommy Cross, Barry Almeida, Paul Carey, Tommy Atkinson, Edwin Shea and Chris Venti – has registered a 6-1 record in Beanpot play thus far, with the only loss coming in a 6-1 first-round dismantling at the hands of Northeastern in the 2009 tournament. They've won every matchup since — a streak that, if continued, would result in BC's third straight Beanpot title.

That's enough to get anyone's nerves going, but the Eagles are remaining even-keeled, ready to convert their energy and excitement into something more memorable.

"Beanpot Monday is what everyone looks forward to all year round, ever since you were a little kid living in the Boston area," said Shea, who understandably described BC's back-to-back Beanpot titles as his most memorable tournament moments thus far. "You want to play in the Beanpot, you dream about it. Waking up on Beanpot Monday, it feels like like Christmas."

Over in the Terriers' locker room, however, the team isn't ready to let the Eages' recent Beanpot success dictate the way Monday's championship tilt is played.

"When you have a BU-BC matchup, it's something that you just have to get up for," said BU defenseman Patrick MacGregor, who is seeking his first Beanpot title. "It's the easiest game probably to be ready to play."

For many of the players taking the ice on Monday night, more important games lie ahead, especially for those 19 players (10 on BU, nine on BC) who've already been selected in the NHL Entry Draft. But don't expect that to cross their minds, as for 60 minutes on the TD Garden ice, earning that big 'ol pot of beans is all that matters.

So, go ahead and flip that coin now. Just don't be surprised if it sits on its side for a few hours, as we could be in store for one of the more heavily contested Beanpot finals to date.

Click here to see the top 60 moments in Beanpot history >>

Click here to see the Beanpot all-time team >>

Click here to follow Monday's Beanpot action with NESN.com's live blog >>

Boston University has enjoyed the most success of any team in the Beanpot tournament, but Boston College has a chance to bring home its third straight title on Monday night.

And as BC senior Edwin Shea will tell you, nothing beats Beanpot Monday for the players involved.

Shea said waking up on the day that you play in the Beanpot is like Christmas morning, and he's excited for the opportunity to battle the Terriers in the final this year.

Shea also discussed a number of other topics while stopping by the NESN studio, including the Eagles' best dancer, his most memorable Beanpot moment and what he'd do if he had a chance to spend a day with the Stanley Cup.

Check out the video above to hear it all and more.

Boston University has become known as "Beanpot U" for its domination of the annual tournament. The Terriers will look to add to their championship success on Monday night when they take on the Boston College Eagles at TD Garden.

BU junior Justin Courtnall dropped by the NESN studio to talk about his team's chances in Monday's clash, admitting that it'll be even more special because the Terriers are taking on their rival in the final.

To hear what else Courtnall had to say about his season, and to hear Courtnall share some locker room secrets, check out the video above.

Over the course of the last 60 years, plenty of big names have made their way through the four schools that compete for this coveted title every year. Despite plenty of worthy candidates, only 52 people have ever been elected to the Beanpot Hall of Fame.

Now, with the 60th installment of the tournament through its first round, we have put together our own collection of the best-of-the-best from Harvard, Boston College, Boston University and Northeastern men's ice hockey.

Below is the Beanpot All-Time Team — the best starting six, a high-caliber seventh man, and the top coach to lead them.

Goalie: John Curry, Boston University, 2003-07
Curry is easily the biggest surprise in this lineup. He joined the Terriers as a walk-on in 2003 and, despite being slotted as a third-stringer, quickly made his presence felt. In his sophomore season, he became the starter and helped BU take down Northeastern in what would be the first of three Beanpot final victories. The following year, Curry got better. He posted an 24-8-4 record, including a 12-game winning streak that spanned roughly six weeks from Dec. 30, 2005 to Feb. 13, 2006. His efforts helped BU to both the Hockey East title and their second consecutive Beanpot title, this time taking out Boston College. If that wasn't enough, Curry's senior season put the cherry on top of a truly impressive career. Again, the Terriers won the Beanpot final over BC. The trophy belonged to the Terriers for the third consecutive season, all with Curry as the netminder. Curry ended the 2006-07 tournament with an unheard of .985 save percentage and capped his Beanpot career with an undefeated 5-0 record. He took home the Beanpot MVP that year, as well as the Eberly Award for goaltending.

Curry can now be found playing for the Hamburg Freezers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany.

Defenseman: Tom "Red" Martin, Boston College, 1957-61
Protecting Curry starts with Red Martin and his impeccable resume. On the ice, Martin was a phenom. He helped BC win two Beanpot titles in 1959 and 1961. During their run to the latter title, he scored three goals and three assists and earned the Beanpot MVP award, the first ever given to a defenseman. Martin was also named an All-American that year, as well as in 1960. In each of his three seasons with the Eagles, Martin earned All-New England and All-East honors. Of course, after his college career was over, Martin kept skating. He joined the 1964 U.S. Olympic team as the alternate captain. Despite being drafted by the Bruins, Martin turned down the chance to play professionally because he would make more money in accounting. He was named to BC's Hall of Fame in 1968 for both his time on the ice and his skills at first base for the Eagles. In addition to his hockey accolades, Red played in two College World Series in 1960 and 1961.

Martin, who also has the third-most career points among BC defensemen (23-111-134), is now a retired business owner and resides in Norwood, Mass.

Defenseman: Vic Stanfield, Boston University, 1971-75
It is hardly surprising to see another BU name here. Between 1972 and 1975, Stanfield helped the Terriers claim two of their now 29 Beanpot titles. What was surprising, however, was how Stanfield impacted the team during their two title runs. During his sophomore season in 1972-73, he put together a 1-5-6 line and led the tournament in scoring, the first time a defenseman had ever done so. Despite not taking home the Beanpot crown in his junior season, Stanfield was awarded the first of two All-American honors. Fortunately, the Terriers were back at the top for his senior season in 1974-75. And again, Stanfield led the tournament in scoring, this time putting together six points with two goals and four assists. He ended his career on top and as an All-American. After both title runs, Stanfield came away with a Beanpot title for his team and an MVP award for his personal trophy case. By the time his BU career was over, he had amassed a career line of 31-129-160 in just 92 games.

Stanfield now works as a golf pro at Lochmere Golf and Country Club in New Hampshire.

Forward: Billy Cleary, Harvard, 1952-56
Cleary only played one season with the Crimson, but he made sure to leave his mark. He lettered in both baseball and ice hockey, and still holds or shares seven school records in the latter. Among those records is the most points in a single season with 89. His gift for scoring showed up in full force for his one Beanpot tournament in 1955. Cleary still holds several Beanpot records, including most goals scored in a period (4), most goals scored in a game (5), most points in a game (7), most goals in a tournament (7) and most points in a tournament (11). He helped the Crimson take home the title that year, ending the game with a cold-blooded overtime goal against Boston College. Cleary took home both All-American honors and the Beanpot MVP that year, but he was hardly done playing hockey. His remarkable performance for Harvard helped him to appearances with the U.S. Olympic hockey team in 1956 and 1960. After the 1956 Olympic run, Cleary was the proud owner of a silver medal. Four years later, Cleary's second time through, the U.S. took down the Soviets and brought home the gold.

Cleary went on to coach the Harvard men's ice hockey team for 19 years before becoming the athletic director in 1990. He retired in 2000.

Forward: Tony Amonte, Boston University, 1989-91
Every team needs a little bit of clutch, and Amonte provides it in spades. In 1991, the Terriers forward put together one of the most memorable performances in Beanpot history. After taking a brutal check that left him on the ice for several minutes during the title game against Boston College, he returned to the action to become the impact player of the game. During the second period, Amonte knocked in a hat trick for his first multigoal game in two years. And get this, he did it in 5:24 of play. BU went on to win the game 8-4, and Amonte took home the Beanpot MVP. Of course, he had success beyond the tournament, putting together an impressive career line of 56-70-126 in just 79 games. After two years with the Terriers, his collegiate career came to an early end when he was given the opportunity to play in the NHL. He is remembered most as a prolific scorer for the Chicago Blackhawks, scoring at least 30 goals five times and 40 goals three times in his Windy City career.

Amonte retired from the NHL in 2007 and now coaches the Thayer Academy varsity hockey team in Braintree, Mass.

Forward: Joe Cavanagh, Harvard, 1967-71
When NCAA rules kept freshmen, including Cavanagh, from competing in varsity sports, the Crimson forward was hardly deterred. In each of the following three years, he earned All-American first team honors and led his team in scoring. By the time Cavanagh had finished his career, he was the all-time Harvard leader in assists (he now ranks third), second all-time in points (now fifth), and third all-time in goals (now 14th). While some of his school records have fallen, his Beanpot mark has stood the test of time. Cavanagh still holds the all-time record for points scored in a Beanpot career, despite the fact that he only competed in six games, rather than eight. He compiled a 3-5-8 line in the Crimson's 1969 title run, earning him Beanpot MVP honors. In the four other games, he put together 11 more points on four goals and seven assists, bringing his total to the 19 points that no one has managed to touch in the 42 years since. Cavanagh attempted to make the 1972 U.S. Olympic hockey team, but broke his wrist in a practice with the squad and decided to pass up a professional career in ice hockey.

Since forgoing his hockey career, Cavanagh has found success as an attorney. He still practices law and lives with his family in Warwick, Rhode Island.

Seventh Man: Rod Isbister, Forward, Northeastern University, 1982-86
Isbister earns the seventh man spot for contributing to two NU title runs in the 1980s. In the 1984 tournament, he led the Huskies over Harvard in the opening round by scoring what would be the eventual game-winning goal. Northeastern would go on to win the title that year. Of course, what really draws the eye to Isbister as a candidate for the seventh man is his performance in the 1985 tournament. The seventh man has to exceed expectations and go above and beyond the call of duty. In Isbister's second title run with the Huskies he did just that by playing with a broken thumb throughout the entire tournament. In the championship game, he assisted on NU's final two goals in a 4-2 victory over BU. Without Isbister's gritty effort, the Huskies might have missed out on their second consecutive Beanpot crown. Thankfully, the forward fought through pain to make his contribution, ultimately earning All-New England and All-East honors that year. He finished his career as Northeastern's third-highest scorer.

Following his Northeastern career, Isbister played six games for the AHL's St. Catharine's Saints. He later went on to coach one season for UMass-Boston.

Coach: Jack Parker, Boston University, 1974-Present
There was no real question about who would be leading this squad of all-timers, as Parker has been a dominant force throughout Beanpot history, both on the ice and behind the bench. He helped lead the Terriers to three consecutive Beanpot titles as a player from 1966-68, then took over as the team's head coach in 1974 and won 21 more. That stretch of 21 titles as head coach includes a record six consecutive Beanpot crowns from 1995 through 2000. Parker has been named NCAA Coach of the Year three times, and has led the Terriers to three NCAA titles. In 2009, he won his 800th game as a head coach, becoming only the third coach to do so. He was elected to the Beanpot Hall of Fame in 2005.

Parker is still in charge of the Terriers and is looking to help the team win the 30th Beanpot title in school history. Regardless of what happens in the remainder of his career, Parker will always be a beloved and revered figure in the pantheon of Boston sports.

So there you have it, folks. The Beanpot All-Time team has been assembled and is prepared to take on all challengers. The blend of stalwart defense and dynamic offense, all led by the greatest coach in Beanpot history, will strike fear into the hearts of all opponents.

Nevertheless, we know these are some fierce rivalries and we are eager to hear what you have to say. Share your thoughts on the Beanpot All-Time team in the comments below.

The Beanpot returned to the TD Garden earlier this week which means the rabid fans of all four schools also made their way back to Causeway Street. 

Some of those fans took some time to chat with NESN.com's Ben Barker about their allegiances to the schools and their hockey teams. The answers were pretty wide-ranging, as were the bean-eating claims of each.

Find out what it all means in the video above.

Every first two Mondays in February, college hockey fans take over Boston’s TD Garden for the annual Beanpot tournament.

The event, now in its 60th year, draws crowds of all ages and all backgrounds — not just students and alumns from the four schools involved. How well do these fans know the Beanpot’s history? Check out Ben Barker‘s video above to find out.

The perennial Beanpot powers flexed their muscles once again this year, as Boston College and Boston University rolled to victories on the opening night of the 2012 Beanpot Tournament.

BU started the show off on the right foot Monday night, scoring three times in the first two periods and giving themselves a solid cushion over Harvard as the Terriers rolled on to an easy 3-1 victory.

The night cap offered another easy win for the favorite, as Boston College used three second-period goals to run away from Northeastern on their way to a 7-1 blowout victory.

The Eagles and Terriers will meet next Monday at 7:30 p.m. at TD Garden. 

Check out the video above for highlights from Monday’s openers.

The last time a team other than BC or BU won the title was in 1994, when Harvard took home the crown. The Terriers disposed of the Crimson in the first first-round matchup of the night, though, while the Eagles dominated the second contest of the evening.

Johnny Gaudreau, Steven Whitney and Paul Carey each recorded two goals for Boston College in the rout, with Barry Almeida adding the other.

BU and BC will meet up in the Beanpot final next Monday at 7:30 p.m., and NESN will have you covered every step of the way.

Third period, 17:20, BC 7-1: Boston College adds another goal late. This one came off the stick of Paul Carey, who also recorded the Eagles' first of the game. He's one of three BC players with two goals, joining Steven Whitney and Johnny Gaudreau.

Third period, 16:34, BC 6-1: This third period has consisted mostly of the Eagles playing keepaway, while their fans scream out various songs in the stands — some good, some bad.

Either way, we're winding down here. Northeastern's Dan Cornell let go a blast from the right point, but Milner was there to make the stop.

Third period, 11:58, BC 6-1: The fans on hand, most of which are BC fans, have begun counting down the minutes. They're also chanting, "We want the cup," something Bruins fans know a thing or two about.

The game got a bit chippy there for a minute, which is always a concern in one-sided affairs such as this. The refs are trying to settle things down before things escalate any more.

The Eagles will now have a four-minute power play in addition to their 6-1 lead.

Third period, 8:57, BC 6-1: Clay Witt, a sophomore from Brandon, Fla., took over in net for the Huskies to start the third period. The Eagles have now slipped one past him.

Barry Almeida one-timed a puck that bounced off the end boards past Witt, extending the Eagles' lead to 6-1. Whitney's fantastic night continues, as he's credited with an assist on the goal.

Third period, 7:30, BC 5-1: Northeastern's Braden Pimm now heads to the box, wiping out the Huskies' power-play chance.

Third period, 6:03, BC 5-1: BC's Destry Straight heads to the penalty box for two minutes for holding. Typically, you'd say this is a chance to chip away. In this case, however, it's also a chance for BC's Steven Whitney (who has two shorthanded goals already) to pick up the hat trick.

Third period, 4:02, BC 5-1: The game's turned into a blowout. Fortunately, there's people like the guy in the sideways blue hat on the Jumbotron to keep everyone entertained.

TD Garden definitely cleared out in advance of the final period. And although that means it's much more quiet, it also means I'll have more of an opportunity to hear random comments (all of which I'll share, of course).

Anyways, in terms of the action on the ice, the third period has started off with a much slower pace than the second period, when both teams came out firing before BC eventually seized control. We'll see how aggressive Northeastern gets in the upcoming minutes.

Second intermission notes: It was simply a dominating period for Boston College. The Eagles have controlled the tempo of the game, and Northeastern's Chris Rawlings really doesn't look comfortable between the pipes right now.

BC's three second-period goals were recorded by Steven Whitney (two shorthanded goals, 6:51 and 13:11) and Johnny Gaudreau (8:58).

In order to really see the Eagles' dominance in that frame, look no further than the shot total. Heading into the period, BC had a 15-10 advantage in terms of shots on goal. Coming out of it, they hold a 29-16 edge, meaning the Eagles outshot the Terriers 14-6, truly a reflection of their time of possession. BC is simply letting it rip out there, launching 52 total shots to Northeastern's 27, a technique that appears to be working for Jerry York's bunch.

End second period, BC 5-1: It's now simply a matter of BC closing this one out. With a commanding 5-1 lead following a strong second period in which the Eagles outscored the Huskies 3-0, BC appears well on its way to heading back to the Beanpot final.

The Eagles have won back-to-back Beanpot titles and would square off with the rival Boston University Terriers if they're able to hold on in this one. Of course, there's still plenty of hockey to be played, but it's going to take a momumental comeback for Northeastern to throw a wrench into BC's plans for next Monday.

Second period, 16:34, BC 5-1: The Eagles will get a chance to add to their total in the closing minutes of the second period. Anthony Bitetto goes off for two minutes, meaning BC will be up a man.

Second period, 15:11, BC 5-1: …And they've done it again. Down a man, the Eagles managed to get a 2-on-1 opportunity, and they didn't disappoint.

Steve Whitney's initial bid was blocked by Anthony Bitetto, who has Northeastern's only goal, but Whitney gathered up the loose puck and fired in a wrister. It's not only Whitney's second goal of the game, but it's his second shorthanded goal of the game.

It's now a race to see who will get the hat trick first: Gaudreau or Whitney.

Second period, 11:40, BC 4-1: Northeastern is going to have to start scoring in bunches. It's first real opportunity is coming up with Gaudreau going to the box for two minutes. That kills two birds with one stone, as the freshman has been the Eagles' best offensive player tonight…By the way, kill two birds with one stone, Eagles, get it? Moving on…

It's worth noting that the Huskies not only didn't convert on their last power play attempt, but they let up a shorthanded goal.

Second period, 8:58, BC 4-1: The Eagles have seized control. Boston College's second goal of the period extends the lead to 4-1.

Chris Rawlings batted an outside shot down, but BC was able to clean up the garbage in front. There were a couple of sticks jamming at the loose puck, but it's Johnny Gaudreau who will once again be credited with the tally. It's his second goal of the evening, and the freshman also has an assist under his belt tonight.

And in case you weren't aware that Gaudreau is a freshman, the BC fans in attendance were sure to let you know, chanting, "He's a freshman."

Second period, 6:57, BC 3-1: So much for taking advantage of the power play. It's the Eagles who come up with a goal while down a man.

After a costly miscue in the neutral zone by Northeastern, during which the Huskies were a bit overaggressive, BC's Barry Almeida corralled the puck and carried it into the attacking zone. He then delivered a perfect, tape-to-tape, cross-ice pass to Steven Whitney, who buried it via a one-timer.

Second period, 5:43, BC 2-1: Chris Kreider will head to the box for the second time tonight, and the Huskies will go on the power play with a chance to tie things up. Northeastern is 0-for-2 on the mad advantage thus far.

Second period, 5:00, BC 2-1: The Eagles did their best to stuff one past Rawlings, and actually did. The goal light went on, and the Eagles fans in attendance momentarily went nuts. However, the zebras had blown the whistle, so it's nothing more than a faceoff in Northeastern's end.

Second period, 2:40, BC 2-1: Both teams are trying to take advantage of the fresh sheet of ice with a quick pace. After getting the puck in deep, Northeastern tried to stuff one home. There were plenty of sticks jamming at the puck as Milner covered it up, but the BC goaltender had a firm grasp on it.

Back down the other end, Rawlings gloved a wrister for a whistle. There was a lot of velocity behind it, but it was like a pitcher painting the corner — right in the mitt.

9:10 p.m.: The two mascots are having a 1-on-1 shootout during the intermission. Interesting.

First intermission notes: Boston College has the distinct shot advantage in the early going, unleashing 24 to Northeastern's 14. Of those 24 shots, 15 made it through to the net for BC, while Northeastern has totaled 10 shots on net through 20 minutes.

Paul Carey (5:14) and Johnny Gaudreau (9:43) are the goal scorers for BC. Anthony Bitetto (12:34) has Northeastern's lone goal.

End first period, BC 2-1: Johnny Gaudreau has his fingerprints all over this game. The freshman nearly added another goal for BC, as he seemingly had a mile of open net at the right post. Rawlings was able to recover, though, and he made a fantastic diving stop to keep the game at 2-1.

That's where we stand at the end of 20 minutes. The Eagles controlled play early, but the Huskies have shown a great deal of fight. Despite only being a period deep, this game looks like it'll be much more wide open than the first game of the evening, from which the Terriers emerged victorious.

First period, 16:55, BC 2-1: Some end-to-end action in the past couple of minutes. After a puck went up into the air, BC goalie Parker Miner lost sight of it, and an Eagles defenseman was forced to sweep it out of the crease.

The biscuit then sailed out of the BC zone, and Northeastern's Alex Tuckerman lost an edge in the neutral zone. The Eagles put together a nice scoring opportunity to no avail, at which point the Huskies started the attack back up the other end.

Freshman Robbie Vrolyk tried a wraparound, which worked for BU in the earlier game, but it was denied by Milner. Freshman Dan Cornell then threw a slapper on net, but that too was corralled by the BC netminder.

First period, 15:14, BC 2-1: We're back to even-strength, as BC kills off the remainder of Northeastern's power play.

First period, 12:34, BC 2-1: Northeastern capitalizes on its first power-play opportunity of the game, scoring with a two-man advantage to trim BC's lead to 2-1.

Sophomore Anthony Bitetto slapped a one-timer past Milner off a feed from freshman Ludwig Karlsson.

The goal came while Northeastern had a two-man advantage, so the Huskies remain on the power play.

First period, 12:14, BC 2-0: Chris Kreider's penalty has given Northeastern a power play, but the Eagles are the ones who've still applied the pressure despite playing a man down. Steven Whitney stole the puck and skated in all alone on a breakway, but he was unable to bury it.

Whitney then received a two-minute minor, meaning Northeastern will have a two-man advantage for nearly a minute. Excellent chance for the Huskies to get back in this game and seize some momentum.

First period, 10:00, BC 2-0: A nice defensive zone faceoff win by Pat Mullane sent the action in the other direction for the Eagles, who used a couple of shots from the point off the stick of Patch Alber to keep Chris Rawlings on his toes.

The Huskies eventually cleared the puck out of the zone, but Johnny Gaudreau, who provided the nifty pass on Paul Carey's earlier goal, charged it and slipped it through the five hole to put BC on top 2-0.

First period, 7:12, BC 1-0: The Huskies tried to answer right back, but a breakaway opportunity was denied by BC goalie Parker Milner.

First period, 5:50, BC 1-0: Following an unreal rendition of DJ Kool's "Let Me Clear My Throat" by the Boston College band, the Eagles got on the board first.

Senior Paul Carey took a drop pass from Johnny Gaudreau in the slot and slapped it past Rawlings for the game's opening tally.

First period, 4:14, 0-0: With the Eagles rocking the gold and the Huskies rocking the red, the two are under way at TD Garden.

A slapper from the point was stopped by Northeastern goaltender Chris Rawlings, but the Eagles are controlling play through the first few minutes of this game, outshooting the Huskies 5-1.

…And the general theme amongst the BC fans is that everyone on Northeastern "sucks."

8:20 p.m.: And Boston College head coach Jerry York is officially introduced as Mr. Jerry York. That's what happens when you lead a school to three national titles.

Regardless, it's a much more boisterous crowd for this one…that's loud for the layperson.

8:09 p.m.: We're almost set for tonight's second game, and a "Let's Go Eagles" chant has started up.

Now that I think of it, I'm thinking I should get a screaming eagle tattoo, for no reason other than I'm a huge fan of America…and Patriotism.

Anyway, Boston College (16-10-1) enters this evening's clash as the fifth ranked team in the country, according to USCHO.com's poll — or the fourth ranked, according to the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. Northeastern, meanwhile, has had an up-and-down season, currently sitting at 7-11-2 and eighth in the Hockey East standings.

Final, BU 3-1: Harvard applied some more late pressure, but Kieran Millan was truly fantastic in net for the Terriers this evening.

Both Danny Biega and Alex Fallstrom made a bid to cut into BU's lead in the closing minute, but Millan kept the biscuit out of the basket.

Millan stopped 29 of the 30 shots he faced in the game, and Wade Megan notched two goals for the Terriers, who will now face the winner of the Boston College-Northeastern clash. That matchup is set to kick off at 8 p.m.

Third period, 18:17, BU 3-1: Head coach Ted Donato has pulled his goaltender with less than two minutes remaining. The Crimson will go with the extra attacker in an effort to cut into this lead and eventually erase it.

Jerry York wants to talk it over, and he calls a timeout for the Terriers.

Third period, 17:13, BU 3-1: Nieto, who already has a goal for the Terriers tonight, was nearly sprung on a breakaway, but the pass was slapped down. Harvard continues to apply the pressure, outplaying BU in this third frame.

Third period, 15:06, BU 3-1: Evan Rodrigues tried to toe drag after entering the offensive zone, but a well-disciplined defensive play stopped him before he could really dig into the bag of tricks.

Alex Fallstrom then sailed a shot by Millan, drawing some ooh's and ahh's from the crowd. Everson followed up with a scoring chance of his own, but he too was denied.

That brief stretch marked the most consistent pressure Harvard has applied in this period, as it's starting to settle in that desperation time is on the horizon.

The Boston College contingent is beginning to file in for the evening's second game, resulting in mixed reviews every time someone is shown on the Jumbotron.

Third period, 11:41, BU 3-1: Max Nicastro and Garrett Noonan are the D pair out there for BU's faceoff in the offensive zone. We could be in store for a heavy dose of Clendening down the stretch, though, perhaps alongside Noonan.

Third period, 9:36, BU 3-1: Harvard has spent a great deal of time in the attacking zone in the past couple of minutes, but it has nothing to show for it, as the Crimson haven't really generated any high percentage chances.

Millan continues his slick play beween the pipes for the Terriers.

Third period, 7:00, BU 3-1: Harvard did a good job of generating some pressure on its most recent forecheck, spearheaded by the Crimson's top line.

Marshall Everson nearly tipped a shot from the point past Millan, but it deflected just wide of the net. He then had a follow-up bid, but it hit off the side of the net.

BU had a nice chance of its own on its ensuing offensive possession, but Girard made a nice stop. The sophomore netminder has done a pretty nice job between the pipes since coming in for Steve Michalek during the second period.

At first, it appeared Michalek may have been pulled because of an equipment issue, as he headed straight for the locker room after getting taken out. Ted Donato has stuck with Girard, however, with Michalek currently sitting on the Harvard bench.

Third period, 2:31, BU 3-1: The Terriers thought they had increased their lead to 4-1, which would have been borderline insurmountable. However, after further review, it was determined that the puck hit the inside of the post over Girard's left shoulder (glove side) and bounced out. Harvard's hopes remain very much alive.

Second intermission notes: The second period featured seven penalties in total — four assessed to BU and three handed to Harvard. You've got to appreciate the increasing passion with which these two teams are playing, but it'll be crucial for the Terriers to maintain their composure and play disciplined hockey down the stretch as they cling to a 3-1 lead.

The period's goal scorers wer BU's Wade Megan, who recorded both of the Terriers' tallies (7:30, 14:02), and Alex Killorn, who got Harvard on the board at 15:27.

The Crimson hold a slide edge in the shot department, throwing 20 shots on net to the Terriers' 19.

End second period, BU 3-1: The action really picked up at the end of the second period, with both teams notching a goal in the final six minutes. It's also clear these two teams realize what's at stake, as the intensity level has certainly increased throughout the course of this game.

Second period, 17:33, BU 3-1: Unsurprisingly, the intensity is picking up a bit here as the game progresses. After BU's Max Nicastro and Harvard's Alex Fallstrom were handed matching roughing penalties, Terriers defenseman Adam Clendening goes off for two minutes for interference. We'll have a rare 4-on-3 situation before Harvard goes on the power play.

Second period, 16:45, BU 3-1: Harvard has made a change between the pipes. Sophomore Raphael Girard, a Quebec native, replaces Steve Michalek.

Second period, 15:28, BU 3-1: Harvard has gotten on the board here late in the second period behind an Alex Killorn power-play goal.

Killorn's goal is his 15th of the season, and we have a game again. It's also encouraging for the Crimson considering how well Kieran Millan had played in net for BU up until this point.

Second period, 14:02, BU 3-0: The Terriers are now in complete control of this one, as Wade Megan buries his second goal of the period.

Megan snuck it past Michalek on the backhand, and the assist goes to Sahir Gill, who also helped set up Megan's goal earlier in the period.

Second period, 13:41, BU 2-0: Neither team capitalizes on the extra space given to them by way of the 4-on-4, and we're back to even strength.

Nieto was nearly hit with a slap pass out of the box, which would have given the Terriers a sure breakaway, but a Crimson defender was able to knock it down before any damage was done.

Second period, 11:36, BU 2-0: Well, the ice will open up a bit here. Matt Nieto is slapped with a roughing call, bringing us to 4-on-4 action for the next minute, after which Harvard will enjoy — or hope to enjoy — a power play.

Second period, 10:36, BU 2-0: BU's top line of Nieto-Connolly-Chiasson is really skating well tonight. They just applied some more pressure in the attacking zone, looking like they're a half a step ahead of the Crimson on each of their forechecks.

The Terriers will have the luxury of going on another power play just past the halfway point of the second, as Harvard's Alex Killorn goes off for high sticking.

Second period, 7:30, BU 2-0: With Harvard failing to capitalize on its scoring chances, you just got the sense it was only a matter of time before BU extended its lead.

Wade Megan slapped a rebound bid past Michalek for the Terriers' second goal. Sahir Gill and Sean Escobedo receive the assists. Escobedo's is his second of the game.

6:10 p.m.: From the interesting tidbit department, the place has filled up a bit here within the past few minutes. People must've gone with the get out of work, hit the 99 for a cocktail and then head over to the Garden approach. It's a good game plan.

Second period, 5:39, BU 1-0: A little dipsy doodle from freshman Tommy O'Regan gave Harvard another nice bid. But again, Millan was able to make the stop.

O'Regan made a nifty toe drag before unleashing a wrist shot on Millan, but the Terriers netminder was able to make the stop look relatively routine.

BU's now going on its fourth power play of the night, as Eric Kroshus is sent off for two minutes for boarding.

Second period, 2:25, BU 1-0: Gutsy shift by BU's Evan Rodrigues. The freshman battled hard out in front of the net, keeping Michalek on his toes between the pipes. He then grabbed the puck in the corner, circled around, and threw a shot on net, which Michalek covered up after making the stop.

Things then got a bit chippy after the whistle, with Harvard defenseman Brendan Rempel sending Justin Courtnall to the ice.

First intermission notes: BU started to control play a bit during the middle course of the opening period, but Harvard put together a couple of chances late, none better than Blackwell's breakaway opportunity.

The shots are even at nine apiece, but in terms of quality scoring opportunities, BU has the edge, due in large part to its three power-play chances.

The Terriers are 0-for-3 on the man advantage through 20 minutes, though, while Harvard also failed to score on its only power-play chance.

The game's lone goal thus far was netted by Matt Nieto from Alex Chiasson and Sean Escobedo at 8:14.

End first, BU 1-0: An excellent opportunity for Harvard late in the first period is denied by goaltender Kieran Millan.

Colin Blackwell skated in all alone on the breakaway while the Crimson were shorthanded, but Millan made a fantastic pad save on the freshman's bid.

We head into the first break of the night with the top ranked Terriers out in front, 1-0.

First period, 16:25, BU 1-0: Right after Everson's penalty expired, the junior winger is heading back to the sin bin, this time for hitting from behind — the second such call in this game.

The penalty prompts a, "You can't do that!" chant from the BU Faithful. And you know what? They're right.

First period, 15:00, BU 1-0: The Terriers were unable to convert on their first power-play chance of the night, but they applied plenty of pressure while up a man.

BU's second line appears to be skating really well, generating the team's best opportunity on the man advantage. Junior Wade Megan centered a pass for sophomore Sahir Gill that Gill nearly buried for the Terriers' second goal. It sailed just wide, though, and the advantage remains at 1-0.

The play was a bit similar to Chiasson's bid off Connolly's feed early in the period, traveling just to the left of Michalek on his stick side.

BU will now have another power play, though, as junior Marshall Everson is summoned to the box.

First period, 11:55, BU 1-0: Harvard was awarded the first man advantage of the evening, but the Crimson were unable to capitalize. Now, it'll be BU's turn.

Senior winger Rence Coassin was slapped with a hitting from behind penalty after he sent defenseman Sean Escobedo flying into the net following a hard wrist shot from Dan Ford.

First period, 8:14, BU 1-0: The Terriers have struck first with an NHL 94 style goal.

Alex Chiasson carried the puck into the attacking zone before delivering a crisp pass over to sophomore Matt Nieto. Nieto then displayed fantastic patience, carrying the puck around the net for a wraparound goal.

Michalek tried to cut down the angle on Nieto, who had a clear path to the net, and was unable to recover when Nieto opted to try for the wraparound.

The goal is Nieto's 11th of the season. The band promptly breaks out in the Vengaboys' "Boom Boom Boom." No train sightings yet, though. Maybe I'll start it up.

First period, 5:30, 0-0: After a quiet first few minutes following the game's opening faceoff, action has picked up a bit. Both goaltenders have stood tall in the early going, though.

BU netminder Kieran Millan made a pair of nice stops. Back down the other end, meanwhile, Harvard goalie Steve Michalek made a couple of nice saves, as well.

BU captain Chris Connolly nearly connected with a streaking Alex Chiasson out in front, but Chiasson's bid sailed just to the left of Michalek. Ryan Ruikka followed that up with a shot from the point, but Michalek again steered it aside.

The Terriers are generating a good rush through the neutral zone early.

First period, 1:21, 0-0: We're under way, and the two fan bases are trading chants early, with BU holding the slight edge.

On the ice, BU defenseman Patrick MacGregor slapped the only shot we've seen on net thus far.

5 p.m.: We're just about ready to get things under way here at the TD Garden for the 60th annual Beanpot tournament. Boston College will be seeking its third straight win at the event, but it's Boston University (16-8-1) and Harvard (7-6-9) that will kick things off here this evening.

The Terriers enter the contest as the No. 1 ranked team in the nation, jumping up two spots in the poll this week. Minnesota received more first place votes (22 to 12) but BU accumulated more points (930 to 922) in the rankings. BC checks in at No. 5.

They'll be dropping the puck in roughly 10 minutes, but here's a look at some of what's at stake in this always intense tournament.

As always, I'll do my best to keep you informed, entertained and on the edge of your seat throughout the evening's happenings. I was already asked about this in the elevator when arriving, so that's when you know it's going to be a good night.

12 p.m.: The 2012 Beanpot tournament is upon us.

Boston University and Harvard take the TD Garden ice at 5 p.m. so get their early, sports fans.

NESN has you covered every step of the way. At 4 p.m., NESN will air the one-hour special The Beanpot: 60 Years of Boston Hockey History. Between games, NESN will be cranking out a live show to recap the first game and preview the second game.

Following the Boston College-Northeastern tilt, keep it on NESN for a live episode of NESN Daily.

For all in-game updates and analysis, follow along with NESN.com's live blog.

Boston College and Boston University will once again renew their rivalry in the final of the 60th annual Beanpot, meaning one of the two schools will emerge victorious from the popular tournament for the 19th straight year.

Either BC or BU has won the Beanpot every year since 1993, with the Terriers having won eight titles in that span, and the Eagles racking up six. In a season in which BU (No. 1) and BC (No. 5) are again among the nation's elite, it's relatively unsurprising that they'll again do battle with the championship on the line next Monday at TD Garden.

Each team took a different path to the final, though. The Terriers rode the hot hand of goalie Kieran Millan, who stopped 29 of Harvard's shots, while the Eagles used an offensive onslaught to storm past Northeastern. The Eagles racked up seven goals against the Huskies, including two apiece from freshman Johnny Gaudreau, junior Steven Whitney and senior Paul Carey.

Neither team broke much of a sweat on Monday night, although the Terriers were tested far more than the Eagles. In some ways, though, it looked like two warmup games for what many saw as an inevitable clash in the tournament final.

There will be no shortage of storylines leading up to this year's final, with BC seeking its third straight title and BU looking for its record 30th overall. The Terriers are 26-14 overall in Beanpot play against the Eagles, a trend they hope continues this time around. BU head coach Jack Parker knows his team will need to elevate its play even more in order to make that a reality, though.

"We were fortunate to get out of here with the W, and we're fortunate to get to the Beanpot final," Parker said. "The object is to win a championship. The object is to keep winning. We did that."

Winning hasn't just become the objective for Parker's BU squad over the years; it's become an expectation. He's led the Terriers to 50 tournament titles, including three NCAA crowns, 11 conference titles and 21 Beanpots in a career that's spanned five decades.

This season marks Parker's 39th Beanpot, and his win on Monday brought his overall record at the tournament to 58-19. It's a winning tradition that's carried over from his playing days, when Parker earned three Beanpot titles at the institution.

It's been three seasons since Parker's team has come away with the big pot of beans, however, as the man who will be on the opposing bench next Monday has enjoyed his fair share of success over the years, as well.

BC head coach Jerry York has guided Boston College to three national championships and five Beanpot titles since he took over as the school's head coach in 1994. He's 5-6 in championship games, with nine of his 11 appearances coming against Parker's Boston University team.

The latest installment should be intriguing, though, with each team battling for Hockey East supremacy, in addition to the bragging rights that come with each Beanpot title. But one look at the men behind the bench reveals that it's intriguing, sure, but a matchup that's not all that surprising.