Boston College 3, Providence 3: Eagles Crack Late, Tie Friars

Sometimes, a tie feels like a loss. For Boston College men’s hockey on Friday night, with Jerry York’s record just seconds away, it might as well have been.

The #2 Eagles and Providence Friars played to a 3-3 tie; the Eagles’ record takes a neutral shift by moving to 11-2-1, still picking up one Hockey East point. This tie ends a 12-game winning streak against Providence, though the unbeaten streak against the Friars moves to 17 consecutive games.

Boston College had the lead early and, more importantly, had the lead late. The gut-punch came with 10.5 seconds to go, as Providence erased a 3-2 Boston College lead and forced overtime. The mood in Providence was celebratory after the tie, which furthers the idea that Providence, the team that scored three times in the third to force overtime, came out the real winner despite the standings saying otherwise.

Ironically, Boston College was outshot in the first two periods, 28-12, and yet had a 2-0 lead going into the second intermission. Between the third period and overtime, however, the Eagles outshot Providence, 17-9, but the Friars outscored BC, 3-1. Boston College goalie Parker Milner made some very skillful saves, particularly earlier in the game when the Eagles put nearly no pucks on the net but Providence sent some flurries his way. Unfortunately, in a situation like this, the one people will remember is the one you gave up with a few seconds left and Jerry York’s record-breaking victory at stake.

It’s rare these days to hear real criticism of Boston College hockey, but they did not play their best game tonight, and giving up three goals in the third period to blow the win is going to stay with them (and the fans) for several weeks.

The scoring summary was as follows:

(BC) 12:39 1st: Johnny Gaudreau (assisted by Mullane)

(BC) 13:06 2nd: Mike Matheson (assisted by Gaudreau, Mullane) — power play

(PC) 0:22 3rd: Derek Army (assisted by Shamanski)
(BC) 1:56 3rd: Mike Matheson (assisted by Brown)
(PC) 2:08 3rd: Noel Acciari (assisted by McParland)
(PC) 19:49 3rd: Nick Saracino (assisted by Acciari, Schaller) — 6-on-5/extra attacker

Boston College hockey will now enter its long Christmas and finals break, not returning to action until Saturday, December 29 in a neutral-site game against Alabama-Huntsville.