BURLINGTON, Vt. - Patrick Brown netted a pair goals for top-ranked Boston College, including the eventual game-winner, and the Eagles held on for a 4-3 Hockey East victory over 14th-ranked Vermont on Friday night at Gutterson Fieldhouse. The Catamounts snap their three-game winning streak and fall to 15-10-3 (7-8-0 HEA), while the Eagles extend their winning streak to nine and push their record to 23-4-3 (14-1-1 HEA).
The Catamounts struck first halfway through the opening frame as Matt White won an offensive zone faceoff cleanly to the top of the circle. H.T. Lenz collected the puck and fired a low shot through traffic that beat Thatcher Demko through the five-hole at 9:46 for his fifth of the year.
Boston College answered less than four minutes later as Ian McCoshen fired a shot on goal from the left point. Mike Santaguida (19 saves) made a left pad save, but the rebound deflected to Austin Cangelosi in the right slot and he wristed a high shot into the net to tie the score at one.
BC carried a power play into the second period and connected just 30 seconds into the middle frame to take its first lead. Kevin Hayes had his point shot blocked by Chris McCarthy between the circles, but the puck bounced to the left faceoff circle for Johnny Gaudreau and the junior quickly directed a shot into the roof of the net.
Vermont failed to convert on a 5-on-3 power play for 60 seconds later in the period and Boston College retained its one-goal cushion. With 11 seconds left in the second, Brown tipped Steve Santini's point shot at the top of the crease and it trickled through Santaguida's five-hole for a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes.
Pete Massar brought UVM back to within one at the 2:00 mark of the third after collecting a pass from Tom Forgione. The senior poked the puck inside the left circle and unleashed a wrist shot that beat Demko blocker side. Just 23 seconds later, Brown responded for BC as the senior converted a 2-on-1 with Ryan Fitzgerald to push the lead back to two.
The Catamounts pulled Santaguida down the stretch and drew a goal back late as Mario Puskarich finished his own rebound off Demko's right pad in the slot with 18 seconds remaining. Puskarich had another look from the low right circle in the closing seconds but Demko made the save at the right post and the Eagles held on for the win.
UVM finished the night 0-for-5 on the power play, while BC went 1-for-3. Demko stopped 26 shots for the victory, while the Catamounts held a 29-23 shot advantage on the night, including a 12-5 edge in the third period.
No. 14 Vermont and No. 1 Boston College close out their two-game Hockey East series on Saturday (Feb. 15) at 7:05 p.m. from Gutterson Fieldhouse. Pre-game radio coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on WVMT 620-AM and Sportsjuice.com with Alastair Ingram on the call. Live high definition video is also available for free via CatamounTV.com.
Xfinity and City Sports will have tables in the main lobby on Saturday night. The UVM Student Government Association will also host a winter hat giveaway for all students in attendance.