CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Junior Pat Mullane and senior captain Tommy Cross scored 39 seconds apart in the middle period and junior goaltender Parker Milner tallied 25 saves to lead top-ranked Boston College in a 2-1 victory over Massachusetts in game one of the Hockey East quarterfinals before 3,188 fans at Kelley Rink.
Freshman forward Johnny Gaudreau notched the primary assists on both goals for the victors, which have won each of the last 12 games.
Massachusetts halved the Eagles' lead at 6:55 of the third period when Danny Hobbs redirected a Michael Marcou slap shot for the team's lone goal of the game.
The Minutemen outshot the Eagles 26-18, including a 19-8 edge in the combined second and third periods. The visitors appeared to net the game's first goal at 10:01 of the second period before video replay displayed Steven Guzzo redirected Michael Pereira's pass into the net with a skate.
Mullane later tallied the game's first goal at 17:46 of the second period and Cross netted the gamewinner at 18:25.
Milner stopped seven shots in the first period, all 11 in the second and eight in the final frame to capture his 22nd win this season and the 35th of his career.
Massachusetts freshman goaltender Kevin Boyle recorded 16 saves in the losing effort. He falls to 8-6-4.
An 18-minute delayed occurred at 8:51 of the first period because of a power outage.
The teams will faceoff tomorrow at 7 p.m. in game two of the best-of-three game league playoff series.
Team Records: Massachusetts 13-17-5; Boston College 26-10-1
Game Notes: One penalty was called between the team's tonight. BC attempted a season-low 18 shots on goal ... BC captured its ninth straight Hockey East Tournament victory ... It is 7-1 against the Minutemen in the league tournament. The team has won the last 11 games between the teams at Kelley Rink dating back to Nov. 17, 2007 ... BC improved to 47-11-1 in the Hockey East Tournament under coach Jerry York and 28-7 in the quarterfinals.