Boston College 3, Minnesota 3: Eagles, Gophers Skate to Tie

Following a wild first period of action, the #5 Boston College Eagles ultimately tied the #1 Minnesota Golden Gophers in their men’s hockey game on Friday night in Minneapolis.

With the final outcome, the Eagles’ record moves sideways to 2-1-1 on the season, while the Gophers are now 4-0-1.

Five goals were launched in the first period between both teams, with Minnesota getting on the scoreboard thirty seconds into the contest and doubling their lead exactly four minutes later. Boston College would soon hit back hard, scoring their three goals within 1:11 of each other.

Minnesota added a tying goal late in the second period.

Goal Sequence
[MIN] Hudson Fasching (1st 0:30; Rau, Skjei): MIN 1, BC 0
[MIN] Travis Boyd (1st 4:30; Rau, Warning; PP): MIN 2, BC 0
[BC] Johnny Gaudreau (1st 8:31; Matheson, Arnold; PP): MIN 2, BC 1
[BC] Michael Sit (1st 9:31; Savage, MacLeod): BC 2, MIN 2
[BC] Michael Sit (1st 9:42; Straight, Savage): BC 3, MIN 2

[MIN] Taylor Cammarata (2nd 15:33; Kloos, Brodzinski): BC 3, MIN 3

The second and third periods were considerably more quiet than the first, which featured at times a lightning-quick pace. Both teams had opportunities in those latter periods, though the scoring was much more under control. Part of that was due to the goaltending, which seemed to improve as the night continued. Freshman goalie Thatcher Demko acquitted himself very well in his first road start, appearing poised against the #1 team in the nation on their home ice. He made 36 saves in the tie, while his counterpart, Minnesota goalie Adam Wilcox stopped 31 shots.

In overtime, Boston College freshman Ian McCoshen made a brilliant save by himself, grabbing the puck and swatting it away from the goal-line as it seemed certain to end the game.

At the conclusion of overtime, the game was officially declared a time, but Don Lucia, to whom Jerry York deferred, chose to let the game go to a shootout. In college hockey, the shootout is an exhibition and does not impact the final standings or the game’s outcome. For what it’s worth, Thatcher Demko and the Eagles won the shootout in five rounds, 2-1.

Boston College lost in Minnesota last December, 8-1. This contest was a major improvement from that for the Eagles and in a game where both teams put some serious talent on display, you’ll always settle for a tie in the top team’s rink. The good news is that both teams will get another stab at one another on Sunday, most likely with junior Brian Billett starting for the Eagles.