Boston College-Boston University Final Score: Late Goals Propel Terriers to 5-3 Win

Boston College-Boston University Final Score: On Friday night at Conte Forum/Kelley Rink, the #5 Boston University Terriers defeated the #3 Boston College Eagles, 5-3.

Boston College-Boston University Final: Dump and Chase

The first period of the game began with a generous feeling-out period, which saw virtually no opportunities on offense for either team until about seven minutes in. Boston College and Boston University would eventually trade chances, but with shots on-goal seven each, offensive opportunities were limited.

The final minute of play in the first featured some excitement, as the teams went end-to-end. Thatcher Demko of the Eagles and Matt O’Connor for the Terriers both made important saves as the period came to a close.

Boston College-Boston University Final: Scoring Opens

In the second, Boston College initiated the scoring as Chris Calnan cleaned up a rebound with traffic in front of the net to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead just two minutes and change into the period.

Evan Rodrigues tied the game with 7:43 to go in the period, but Ryan Fitzgerald, who is having a great start to the year for the Eagles, got it back on a nice snipe to put the Eagles on top again.

With the third period opening with a 2-1 Boston College lead, Mike Moran deflected a shot off of Thatcher Demko from behind the net, banking it in to tie the game 2-2. The Eagles did not have to stand for it for too long, as Ryan Fitzgerald picked off the puck shorthanded and went in by himself for the goal, giving Boston College another lead at 3-2. It was the last time in the game they would hold the advantage.

Jack Eichel finished off a play with a tip-in goal with 7:45 to go, tying the game at 3-3. Minutes later, Evan Rodrigues scored again on a slow roller trickling through the crease that Demko could not stop until it was too late. Boston University later added an empty-netter to seal it.

Boston College-Boston University Final: Goal Chart

Boston College-Boston University Final: Bottom Line

On the game-winning goal for the Terriers, Thatcher Demko has to make that save. The Moran goal was a total fluke and an unlucky break, but that second Rodrigues goal absolutely should have been stopped. The game came down to a fluke goal and a cheap goal, and tonight the Eagles were on the wrong end of it.

Boston College did some good things, and the power play got better during the game despite another 0-fer (0-for-4), but there were times when the passing was sloppy and disjointed and they looked like they gave up on plays. The first Rodrigues goal was one of them. In spite of that, Ryan Fitzgerald individually had a good performance, and Noah Hanifin looks like he will develop into a fine player.

Expect a big drop for the Eagles in the upcoming college hockey polls next week, possibly at the edge of or just outside of the top ten. Losing to another top-five team is nothing worth ultimate shame, but a three-game losing streak with a loss to UConn in the middle, and there is no question Eagles hockey has had a bad week.

It has been obvious that this team is not as good as last year’s edition, for reasons that are likewise clear. Boston College has a long way left in the year to turn around, but rarely do they find themselves at .500 eight games into the season.

Boston College-Boston University Final: Next Up

The Eagles return to action on Tuesday night at Kelley Rink as they take on the Harvard Crimson.

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