CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Nathan Gerbe scored on a penalty shot and added an assist while Brian Gibbons and Ben Smith also registered one goal and one assist to lead Boston College, the No. 4 seed in the Hockey East Tournament, to a 5-1 quarterfinal-round victory over Providence before 2,493 fans in Kelley Rink.
Watch Nathan Gerbe's penalty shot goal on YouTube
The Eagles defeated the Friars in consecutive games in the best-of-three quarterfinal series and now advance to the semifinal round next Friday (March 21) at TD Banknorth Garden.
Freshman goalie John Muse made 36 saves to earn his 19th victory of the season. PC outshot BC, 37-20, including advantages of 17-1 and 14-4 in the second and third periods, respectively.
BC scored four times in the first period and once in the final frame for the 5-1 final.
After scoring twice in the opening one minute, 18 second on Friday night, BC tallied two goals in the first 2:18 on Saturday.
Smith got the Eagles on the scoreboard with his 19th goal of the season at 1:26 and junior Benn Ferriero doubled the BC lead at 2:18.
Senior Dan Bertram was credited with Boston College's third goal of the period, redirecting defenseman Carl Sneep's shot from the right point, at 8:36, and Gerbe concluded the scoring in the opening frame when he converted a penalty shot at 14:35.
Gerbe's goal, his 27th of the season, marked the first made penalty shot since Feb. 23, 1999 when former Eagle Chris Masters connected against Providence.
PC forward Ian O'Connor tallied the Friars lone goal of the night at 2:48 of the second period.
Gibbons tallied BC's fifth goal - his 11th of his freshman season - at 10:55 of the last stanza.
PC sophomore Ryan Simpson recorded 15 saves in the losing effort.
Team Records: Providence (14-17-5), Boston College (19-11-8)