2014 Beanpot Semifinal: Boston College 3, Boston University 1

Boston College hockey did not play its most dominant game, but they are moving on to their fifth-straight Beanpot title game as on Monday evening at the TD Garden, the #2 Eagles defeated the Boston University Terriers, 3-1.

This was officially a non-conference game, but Boston College still improved their overall record to 20-4-3. The Eagles’ unbeaten streak is now at thirteen games in a row (12-0-1). Boston College swept the season series with the Terriers, taking all three games.

The first period started with the Eagles tilting the ice down towards the Terrier net, buzzing until they got their first shot on goal: a Ryan Fitzgerald power play goal just seconds into a man-advantage. Fitzgerald’s snipe put the Eagles ahead, but as the period progressed, Boston University improved on the forecheck and started to get better and better chances against Thatcher Demko. The Terriers outshot the Eagles in the first, 10-5.

Goal Sequence
[BC] Ryan Fitzgerald (PP) (4:04 1st; Doherty, Savage): BC 1, BU 0

[BC] Kevin Hayes (1:20 2nd; Arnold, Gaudreau): BC 2, BU 0

[BU] Robbie Baillargeon (6:43 3rd; O’Regan): BC 2, BU 1
[BC] Johnny Gaudreau (EN) (19:29 3rd; Arnold): BC 3, BU 1

In the second period, the good times continued rolling for the nation’s best line. Early on in the frame, Kevin Hayes scored his 20th goal of the season on assists from Bill Arnold and Johnny Gaudreau. Arnold made a perfect pass to Hayes, who had a wide-open net on the other side for the easy score. With the point, Gaudreau extended his points streak to 22 games in a row.

Unfortunately, Hayes’ success would also come with some pain. Mid-way through the second period, he was hit head-first into the boards by Doyle Somerby. Though the intent was questionable, Somerby was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct. Hayes laid on the ice for several moments following the impact. He would return to play during the ensuing power play, which was killed off by the Terriers.

The third period started full of action, including the Terriers twice missing at a wide-open net. They did, however, get on the board after nearly seven minutes on a Robbie Baillargeon goal, a laser blasted past Demko.

Gaudreau added the insurance goal with 30 seconds remaining on a break-away empty-netter.

Demko had a strong game in goal for the Eagles, but Boston College was also the beneficiary of some puck luck, such as the open net that the Terriers somehow missed with the puck sitting in the crease. Boston University showed some fight on the defensive end and offensively made Demko work, but the Eagles’ collective effort was just good enough.

The Eagles will head to the Beanpot championship next Monday against Northeastern, but first, they will return to the ice for a tune-up on Friday night at home against Merrimack.