CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Senior forward Steven Whitney scored twice - top-ranked Boston College's first goal and last goals - and sophomore line mate Johnny Gaudreau assisted on each to help the Eagles come back from a 3-0 second-period deficit to defeat Merrimack 4-3 in front of 6,638 fans at Kelley Rink on Friday night.
After a scoreless first period, Merrimack notched three consecutive goals in a span of 4 minutes, 38 seconds in the second period. Boston College responded with three goals of its own in a span of 5:14 - just 2:48 after Merrimack's final tally. Whitney scored the lone goal of the third period - the gamewinner - at 12:38.
Host BC outshot the visiting Warriors, 42-26, in the game. Merrimack junior goaltender Sam Marotta recorded a season-high 38 saves in the losing effort.
Down 3-0, Whitney put the Eagles on the board at 7:39 of the middle stanza with a hard wrist shot from the slot past Marotta's glove.
The Eagles then pulled within one score at 11:50 on Patrick Wey's first goal of the season. Sophomore Danny Linell netted the tying goal at 12:53 to conclude a six-goal scoring burst in the period. Linell received a pass from sophomore Cam Spiro, skated right to left across the crease and flipped a backhanded shot top shelf for his first of the season.
Whitney scored the game-winning goal at 12:38 of the final frame, taking a cross-ice pass from Gaudreau and beating Marotta high glove side to seal the Eagles' 4-3 victory.
Merrimack forward John Gustafsson scored the first of six second-period goals at 3:15. The freshman skated down the left side of the ice and beat BC goaltender Parker Milner (23 saves) glove side to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead.
Senior defenseman Kyle Bigos doubled the lead at 3:19 and Mike Collins scored the third unanswered goal at 5:51.
Boston College is next in action on Saturday, Nov. 24 when it hosts Dartmouth at 4 p.m.
Team Records: Merrimack 4-6-1, 3-3-1 Hockey East; Boston College 9-1-0, 8-1-0 HE
Game Notes: BC has won nine straight and 28 of its last 29 games dating back to last January ... Tonight's victory also extended the team's home unbeaten streak against the Warriors to 27 games. BC is 24-0-3 against Merrimack at home since Halloween Night 1997 ... Merrimack had three goals on seven shots in the second period, BC had three goal on 16 shots ... Linell's goal gave all three players involved in the scoring, Linell, Spiro and sophomore Michael Sit, their first points of the season ... Spiro's assist marked his first collegiate point ... Sophomore Destry Straight missed tonight's game because of an ankle injury sustained against Boston University last Sunday ... With two points in the contest, Gaudreau has at least one point in all 10 games this season and a team-high 14 points in total ... Wey's goal marked his first since the team's 4-0 win over Minnesota-Duluth in the NCAA Regional final last March and the fourth of his 106-game collegiate career ... Whitney's multiple-goal effort marked his first of the season. He last scored twice against Ferris State in the 2012 NCAA championship game in Tampa, Fla. Whitney and Mullane each have at least one point in nine (of 10) games this season ... Tonight's win marked career win No. 922 for head coach Jerry York.