Final, BC 4-1: It's all over at Conte Forum, as the Eagles skate away with a 4-1 victory over the Providence Friars.
Give credit to the Friars for keeping the pressure on throughout the matchup. John Muse was incredible in net, per usual, picking up his 75th career with with the Eagles. Muse now ranks second in the BC franchise for goaltender wins. Scott Clemmensen holds the current record with 99 wins.
Boston College remains tied atop the Hockey East conference with the University of New Hampshire. UNH picked up a 5-2 win over UMass Lowell on Friday night.
The Eagles and the Friars are at it again on Saturday, this time at Schneider Arena in Rhode Island. The puck drops at 7 p.m.
Third Period, 3:37, BC 4-1: Providence continues to attack, and it's a positive sign to see. Remember, these teams are matching up again on Saturday in Providence, so it's nice to see the Friars maintain an offensive tone — in hopes that the will translate better for the team in their home matchup.
Third Period, 6:08, BC 4-1: The star of this show is clearly Muse, making every save look easy. He's denied Providence on back-to-back attacks in his zone, taking away any scoring angle from the Friars.
Third Period, 7:30, BC 4-1: Providence gets a late gift as Joe Whitney heads to the box with a hitting after the whistle penalty. Friars have the 4-on-3 advantage.
Third Period, 7:44, BC 4-1: Things are starting to get chippy. As the frustrations bubble over, Chris Rooney and Brian Gibbons head to the penalty box for matching roughing minors. These two have been at each other all night, and it's starting to catch up with them as they cool off in the box.
Third Period, 10:56, BC 4-1: The Friars aren't letting up in this one. Freshman Jamie Ferullo rips a hard shot at Muse, but the senior netminder stops the puck with his chest, and bats it down into his glove.
Third Period, 15:25, BC 4-1: Incredible block by Arnold as a Friars defenseman squares up for a slapshot at the point. Without his stick, Arnold lays his body on the line and takes the puck to the glove. That's taking one for the team.
Third Period, 15:33, BC 4-1: We've got another 4-on-4 going as BC heads to the penalty box with a interference call.
Third Period, 15:36, BC 4-1: Just as Army leaves the penalty box, Mark Adams heads back in for a holding penalty.
Third Period, 18:10, BC 4-1: New goaltender in the mix for Providence. Junior Justin Gates has taken over the netminder duties for the Friars.
BC will put Gates to work right away as Friars' freshman Derek Army takes a slashing penalty right in front of the referee.
Third Period, 18:46, BC 4-1: Muse is saving BC from quite a few turnover errors. Providence forward Ian O'Connor again capitalized on a turnover at center ice, skating in on Muse in a one-on-one opportunity, but Muse denies it to the right.
End of Second Period, BC 4-1: If there's one word to describe that goal by the Eagles — it's tenacious. The BC offense did not let up on that one, as Mullane found Whitney in front of the net. Whitney snuck around a defender before dishing it off to Carey at the right, where Carey simply flipped it upward over Beaudry's shoulder for the 4-1 lead.
Second Period, 2:02, BC 3-1: Give Beaudry credit, he's not folding under pressure. The Eagles have not let up on the Friars' goaltender, and he's denying solid opportunities by BC's skilled attack.
Second Period, 6:42, BC 3-1: Just as Friars captain was released from the penalty box, the Eagles strike with a goal by Kreider. It goes in the books as an even-strength, but this was a clear advantage for BC. Pat Mullane takes the shot from the right circle, and Kreider tips the rebound right in front of the net past Beaudry.
Second Period, 8:48, BC 2-1: BC goes on the 4-on-3 advantage as the Friars captain is called for a high-sticking penalty.
Second Period, 9:48, BC 2-1: Scrum breaks out behind BC net as Providence players give a few extra shoves to the Eagles' netminder. It looks like the Friars are trying to take the Eagles out of their game a bit, trying to earn the physical edge. It results in a 4-on-4, however, as matching roughing penalties are given out. This is not what Providence wants, since BC capitalized on the 4-on-4 in the first.
Second Period, 13:01, BC 2-1: Junior Andy Balysky snaps the lead in half as a smart forechecking play gives Providence a scoring opportunity against Muse. Balysky snaps a quick one-timer into the upper left corner for his first goal of the year.
Second Period, 15:01, BC 2-0: Friars kill off that penalty, continuing their PK success over the past six games. They have a penalty kill percentage of 96% in their past six matchups.
Second Period, 17:01, BC 2-0: BC will head back on the power play as Daniel New is called for a elbowing penalty in the corner against Whitney.
Second Period, 19:43, BC 2-0: They may be down to the No. 3-ranked team, but Providence is definitely not out of this game. By forcing a few turnovers and chipping away at the lead, the Friars can be right back in this game.
End of First Period, BC 2-0: The Friars may have held the Eagles off for the first 10 minutes, but the BC offense is just too potent. Atkinson and Arnold score in the first to give BC the 2-0 lead after one.
First Period, 1:27, BC 2-0: They may be shorthanded, but BC never lets up on the pressure. After a shot by Kreider dings off the post, Brian Gibbons and Cam Atkinson drive in on another strike on Beaudry. Atkinson whiffs his first shot, but connects with the second and drives the puck over Beaudry's glove side.
First Period, 2:27, BC 1-0: Dangerous move by BC captain Joe Whitney. The senior is called for boarding as he slams a Friars' defenseman into the boards.
First Period, 2:45, BC 1-0: There's a reason John Muse is a two-time National Champion. The senior netminder just robbed Matt Germain of a easy flip into the upper right corner. It looked like Tuukka Rask's move against the Wild, where Muse was already down but lifts his glove to stop the shot.
First Period, 5:00, BC 1-0: Friars fight off the power play, and MacKinnon strikes on Muse in the offensive end. BC will have to stay tight on MacKinnon — it's clear he's hungry for an equalizer already.
First Period, 7:06, BC 1-0: Before Arnold's goal, there was a delayed penalty call on Providence, so BC will go on the power play following the goal. Lucky break for the Eagles.
First Period, 7:06, BC 1-0: Bill Arnold strikes first for the Eagles, notching his fifth of the season. Arnold capitalized on a wide shot that ricocheted off the boards back in front of the net, and the freshman buried it into the right corner for the early lead.
First Period, 8:15, 0-0: Matching penalties called as the teams go 4-on-4, and this is where BC has an advantage. They play well with the open ice, and they've already taken the first strike against Beaudry.
First Period, 8:41, 0-0: The Eagles survive their first penalty kill, as they're back on full strength. The Friars are effectively halting BC's strengths, however. They're playing the puck close, and they're not letting things get too loose in their defensive zone. Limiting opportunities is the key for Providence in this one.
First Period, 10:51, 0-0: The Friars will go on their first power play opportunity, as BC junior Paul Carey is called for a tripping in his own zone. The Eagles have the number-one penalty kill in the country, however, so we'll see how the Friars match up with a man advantage.
First Period, 12:15, 0-0: Eagles sophomore Chris Kreider gets his first shot on net from the point. Kreider, along with Patrick Wey and Brian Dumoulin, just returned from the World Junior Championships in Buffalo. The three Eagles are coming off the bronze medal game against Canada on Wednesday.
First Period, 13:11, 0-0: BC gets their first dangerous opportunity as junior Cam Atkinson drives in on a breakaway on Beaudry. Atkinson holds a bit too long however, and stuffs the puck into Beaudry's pad by the left post.
First Period, 15:36, 0-0: Providence leading scorer Kyle MacKinnon gets his first chance on John Muse. MacKinnon is dangerous if you give him the opportunity. The senior center had two quality opportunities on Muse, as he almost scooped up his own rebound.
First Period, 16:05, 0-0: BC has led the attack in the opening minutes here, testing Beaudry on a few separate occasions. The Friars' netminder has held strong against the Eagles' skilled offense so far.
7:17 p.m.: If you take a look at Beaudry's helmet, there's a recognizable character on the side … the Energizer Bunny. The Friars' netminder is characterized as unflappable, and mentally tough.
He'll have quite the matchup tonight, however, as two-time National Champion John Muse sits opposite Beaudry in the Eagles' net. Muse posts a .934 save percentage this season, with a 2.02 GAA.
7:10 p.m.: The BC Eagles may be sitting atop Hockey East with 30 goals scored in their past five matchups, but don't count Providence out of this one just yet.
The Friars junior goaltender Alex Beaudry has the ability to take teams out of their game, and will be raring to go in the team's first Hockey East matchup since Dec. 4.
8 a.m.: The No.-3 ranked Boston College Eagles return to action on Friday night as they kick off a home-and-home series with the Providence Friars.
BC currently sits knotted with New Hampshire at the top of the Hockey East standings, as each team posts 18 points in conference action. Providence comes into the Conte Forum in sixth place with 13 points.
The Eagles are currently riding a five-game win streak and have a week's worth of rest. In their last action on New Year's Eve, senior Brian Gibbons netted two goals to lead BC to a 4-1 victory over Mercyhurst.
The Friars are coming off a split with New Brunswick, picking up a 1-0 win on Sunday. Providence is led by senior center Kyle MacKinnon, who has 15 points on the year.
The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.
