Tuch Scores Two; Boston College Beats BU, 4-2

Apr 10, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Boston College Eagles goalie Thatcher Demko (30) makes a save against the Union Dutchmen during the second period in the semifinals of the Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Boston College Beats BU: Alex Tuch had his first two-goal performance in maroon and gold as #17 Boston College defeated #2 Boston University, 4-2 on Friday night.

The win extends Boston College’s unbeaten streak to eight games in a row (6-0-2 since December).

Boston College Beats BU: Game Synopsis

The game began with a flurry of penalties of both sides, with both the Eagles and Terriers digging in for some chippy hockey. At one point, Boston University had four players sitting in their penalty box while two Eagles sat in their own. The first few minutes were practically unwatchable due to the volume of stoppages.

What the two teams lacked in discipline, they also lacked in quality chances until one of those waves of penalties ultimately gave Boston College a 5-on-3. After some passing down low, the Eagles were able to keep the puck in and get it to Noah Hanifin, who blasted a slapshot past Matt O’Connor at fairly close range to give BC a 1-0 lead.

Boston College would have a few more decent changes thereafter, including Alex Tuch streaking up the ice and forcing an O’Connor glove save.

However, Tuch eventually got his goal. Noah Hanifin, his Boston College and World Juniors teammate, went all around the Boston University defense and found Tuch in front of the net, catching O’Connor out of position for the score. Combine that with some big saves by Thatcher Demko and the Eagles took a 2-0 advantage into the first break.

Early in the second, a puck shot on-goal trickled through Demko’s legs and towards the net. Eagles captain Mike Matheson swatted it away a split second before it made the goal line.

While the earlier portions of the second were free of penalties, the latter was not. After Demko averted disaster on one end, the Eagles went streaking up the other and Boston University captain Matt Grzelcyk took a slashing call. Seconds after the faceoff to being the power play, Robbie Baillargeon got caught for a high stick and Boston College had 1:50 of 5-on-3 time.

Alex Tuch was set up for a try with his team on the attack, and again he did not miss. Tuch buried the shot and gave Boston College a 3-0 lead.

Demko stood strong on his end during the second, at one point making a big kick save on a chance by the goalpost. The Terriers had opportunities, including a puck that sailed through the crease behind Demko, but near misses were the story of their period. Even though the Eagles ended the second with a penalty, Michael Sit broke away with the puck and got off a shot that O’Connor had to save as time expired.

The third started the wrong way for the Eagles. Just 77 seconds in, while still on the penalty kill, Danny O’Regan beat Demko to get Boston University on the board. Thereafter, the Terriers were persistent in applying pressure, but Boston College counteracted it for the most part. The Eagles were not content to sit on the lead, at least that’s what their play demonstrated.

Boston University made it interesting late, with Matt Lane notching a goal to get Agganis rocking and make it a 3-2 game. Moments later, the Terriers put a shot or two on Demko in a bid for the tie, but Demko covered up. BU pulled O’Connor with 1:23 to play in regulation, and though they kept the puck in for most of the next minute, Zach Sanford sent one down the ice for an empty-net goal to seal the win.

Next: Goal Chart & Bottom Line