Boston College-Dartmouth Final: Eagles Come Back, Clip Big Green for 3-2 Win

Boston College-Dartmouth Final: #15 Boston College hockey came from behind on Saturday evening to beat the Dartmouth Big Green, 3-2.

Their victory earned them the Ledyard Classic title, but more importantly, it was Boston College’s fourth win in a row. The Eagles are 11-7-1 on the season and are 4-0-1 in their previous five games dating back to December.

Boston College’s World Juniors representatives rejoined the team, and of them, only starting goalie Thatcher Demko did not play on Saturday. Alex Tuch, Noah Hanifin, and Ian McCoshen all dressed for the game. Backup goalie Brad Barone made his second straight start for the Eagles, looking to earn his second career win.

Boston College-Dartmouth Final: Game Synopsis

Both teams were held scoreless over the course of the first period, with the play being mostly even, though perhaps slightly tilted in favor of the home team. Barone made nine saves, as did Dartmouth’s goaltender, James Kruger.

The second period was more favorable to Dartmouth, though Boston College notched the first score. Adam Gilmour got the Eagles’ third power play goal in two games to put his team ahead at the 3:50 mark. At about the halfway point of the period, however, Dartmouth got it back and tied the game thanks to a Brett Patterson goal.

The Big Green would take their first lead of the contest with just over three minutes to go in the second on a Jack Barre power play goal.

Trailing 2-1 entering the third, Boston College needed a comeback to earn their fourth win in a row, and thanks to a strong final frame, they did just that. Within the opening two minutes, Chris Calnan potted the tying goal, shooting a Mike Matheson rebound into the net to make it a 2-2 game.

The mood was tense, but with just under four minutes to go, Boston College’s Teddy Doherty found the net to break the tie for good.

Boston College-Dartmouth Final: Goal Chart

Boston College-Dartmouth Final: The Stats

Barone, previously winless as an Eagles goalie, has two wins in as many nights. He made 23 saves in the victory, while James Kruger saved 27 in Dartmouth’s defeat. BC had the edge in shots, 30 to 25.

Both teams had a power play goal on the evening: BC went 1-for-2 while Dartmouth was 1-for-5.

Eight Eagles had at least one point, but Zach Sanford was the only Boston College player with two (0-2-2).

Boston College-Dartmouth Final: Hot Takes

Boston College Eagles

This was exactly what Boston College needed. The “tournament” they won is irrelevant: the victory is all that matters, and now we have an Eagles team with four wins in a row. Once 7-7-0 about a month ago, they are now 11-7-1 and inching their way up the PairWise Rankings.

There is still much work to be done, but this was a resilient win by a team that needs to start building and sustaining momentum. They earned a quality victory — coming from behind in the third period on the road, no less — and are starting to finally show signs of putting it all together.

Is this their annual big second half sprint we typically see? It’s too soon to tell, but the bleeding from the first half has stopped and the Eagles look ready to roll.

Boston College-Dartmouth Final: Next Up

Boston College returns to Hockey East action on Friday night, playing their first half of a home-and-home with the Northeastern Huskies in Boston. The Eagles will host Northeastern next Saturday.