Photo credit Matt Woolverton
Top-ranked BC’s potent power play and exceptional
goaltending proved too much for the #2 Terriers, who were dethroned as Hockey
East Tournament champions by the Eagles, 6-2. Tournament MVP Will Smith scored four
goals, the first two on opening period power plays.
For much of the first 40 minutes, BU had the better of the 5-on-5 play but
could only put one shot past BC’s first-team all-star goalie Jacob Fowler.
Meanwhile the Eagles connected on three power plays to take a 3-1 lead into the
final period.
If there was a turning point, it came in the final minutes
of the second period with the Terriers trailing, 2-1 after Gavin McCarthy’s
first collegiate goal. They had a long flurry of scoring opportunities all
turned aside by Fowler, That sequence was followed by a Luke Tuch boarding
penalty, putting BC back on the power play and for a third time, they scored
with Cutter Gauthier notching his nation’s best 35th goal to restore
the two-goal margin.
At 6:46 of the third period, Smith completed his hat trick
and five minutes later, Gabe Perreault tallied BC’s fourth power play goal.
That goal came just after Fowler robbed Ryan Greene with a lunging stop to
prevent a shot into a half-open net (8:13 of the highlight video).
A five-minute major on former Terrier Jamie Armstrong with
7:33 remaining gave BU an opportunity to get back into the game. However, the
Terriers could only produce one goal on the extended power play with Macklin
Celebrini recording his 31st goal assisted by Lane Hutson and Greene.
After Mathieu Caron was pulled for an extra skater, Smith
hit the empty net to close out the scoring.
BU outshot BC 36-29, but the number of grade A chances was
limited by the Eagles defense and most of those allowed were stymied by Fowler.
Lane Hutson joined five Eagles on the the All-Tournament team.
● GoTerriers.com recap
and box
score
● Post-game
comments Jay Pandolfo
● Boston Hockey Blog: Terriers fall, 6-2, to BC in Hockey East championship
● Hockey East recap