Eagles hold off late push to take the second game of the weekend series
The Boston College men’s hockey team bounced back to take a win out of their weekend series with UConn, getting goals from four different players en route to a 4-2 win. After blowing a late 3-1 lead in Friday’s game, the Eagles held off another third period push from the Huskies to get back on the winning track in Hockey East.
BC got on the board first early in the game, with the fourth line continuing their recent string of hot play. Harrison Roy tucked home a rebound just about two and a half minutes in, giving him his second goal in as many days after scoring his first BC goal on Friday, All three of Roy, Danny Weight, and Casey Carreau had a hand in the goal, the third of the weekend for BC’s fourth line. UConn tied things up with exactly 12 minutes left in the period, scoring on a rebound goal of their own after a bad turnover by BC near their own blue line lead to an odd man rush. That was all the scoring in the first period, with both teams getting a handful of chances and BC going 0-2 on the power play, and the teams stayed tied at 1 after the first 20 minutes.
The Eagles looked dangerous throughout the second period, dominating possession and shot totals for long stretches. Danny Weight got denied on an absolutely incredible save by UConn goalie Tomas Vomacka, and there was a post or two before the fourth line came through yet agai. Casey Carreau gave BC their lead back with just over 4 minutes left in the period. A takeaway at the defensive blue line and a sloppy line change by UConn gave BC a 3-on-1, and Carreau was in the right spot to put home a one timer right on the near post after a nice passing play between Nikita Nesterenko and Jack McBain. It was Carreau’s second goal of the weekend and fourth of the season, and it gave BC a 2-1 late in the period. The Eagles would double their lead with their sixth shorthanded goal of the season, when captain Marc McLaughlin finished a two-on-one rush with Matt Boldy to give BC a 3-1 lead headed into the third period.
The third period was played with some fantastic pace early on before things got a bit tense late for the second night in a row. UConn got within one with a power play goal on a shot from the point that got past a screened Spencer Knight to make things 3-2 with four minutes to go. That was as close as UConn would get this time, however, as the Eagles managed to hold off their late charge before Jack St. Ivany added a late empty net goal from his own end to give BC a 4-2 win.
It wasn’t all pretty, but BC was able to grind out a win against an opponent that has given them fits all season. With the Hockey East schedule still in flux, we don’t actually know who BC will be playing next weekend yet, but hopefully this win can be the first in another winning streak. There are things that absolutely need fixing in the near future (namely, the power play), but the Eagles did enough things to come out with four points from this weekend and remain in good shape for however Hockey East eventually decides to do their standings.
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