PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Tyce Thompson and Josh Wilkins each registered two points in the third period as the No. 8 Providence College men's hockey team downed Boston College, 3-1, on Thursday night at Schneider Arena in the regular season finale. With the win, Providence will be seeded No. 2 in the upcoming Hockey East Tournament and will face either Boston College or New Hampshire in the quarterfinal round next weekend.
SCORE
No. 8 Providence - 3 | Boston College - 1
RECORDS
Providence - 21-9-6 (14-7-3 HEA) | Boston College - 11-20-3 (10-11-3 HEA)
VENUE
Schneider Arena - Providence, R.I.
GOALIES
Hayden Hawkey (PC) - 29 saves
Joe Woll (BC) - 28 saves
NOTES
- The Friars generated multiple looks from in close on Woll in the first period, but the junior netminder turned away all 14 shots he faced.
- Ben Mirageas had the best chance of the period as a loose puck trickled out to him at the top of the slot with a scrum in the crease, his shot at Woll's five-hole was denied.
- Mirageas, Jack Dugan and Tyce Thompson each had a pair of shots on goal in the opening period.
- The teams battled through another scoreless period as the Eagles held a 9-8 advantage in shots.
- Brandon Duhaime boasted the best chance of the period for either team after a clean faceoff win by Scott Conway, his backhand shot was gloved by a sprawling Woll.
- Tyce Thompson struck for his seventh goal of the season just 45 seconds into the third period, beating Woll with a snap shot past the blocker.
- The struggling Friar power play came up big in the third period as Josh Wilkins and Kasper Björkqvist each cashed in on the man-advantage to give Providence a 3-0 lead with under nine minutes to play. It was Björkqvist's team-leading 15th goal of the season.
- JD Dudek brought the Eagles back within two with 3:35 remaining.
- Hayden Hawkey stood tall with Woll pulled for the extra attacker for the final 2:35 of regulation.
- Seven players have now registered at least 20 points for the Friars this season.
- It was the first time since Jan. 5 against Miami that Providence has recorded multiple power play goals in a game.
- Wilkins' two points now move him up to 98 points in his career.
- Providence will be the No. 2 seed in the Hockey East Tournament for the third time under Nate Leaman.
- The Friars are 18-1-2 when scoring at least three goals this season and evened their record at 4-4-3 when entering this third period tied this season.
HOW THEY SCORED
1-0 (PC) - 0:45/3rd- EV - Tyce Thompson (Wilkins, Callahan) - Thompson gained entry into the zone and snapped a shot from the tops of the circles past the blocker of Woll.
2-0 (PC) - 3:33/3rd - PP - Josh Wilkins (Thompson, Bryson) - Pass through the seam from Thompson to Wilkins for the one-timer.
3-0 (PC) - 11:15/3rd - PP - Kasper Björkqvist (Dugan, Young) - Dugan carried into the zone from his own blue line, circled the net and centered to Björkqvist at the top of the crease.
3-1 (BC) - 16:25/3rd - EV - JD Dudek (Greco) - Carom off of Greco right out in front to Dudek who put home his own rebound.
PC GAME HIGHS
Goals: Björkqvist, Thompson, Wilkins (1)
Assists: Bryson, Callahan, Dugan, Thompson, Wilkins, Young (1)
Points: Thompson, Wilkins (2)
Shots: Thompson (4)
POWER PLAYS
Providence - 2/3
Boston College - 0/1
SHOTS
Providence - 31
Boston College - 30
UP NEXT
The Friars will host a best-of-three Hockey East Quarterfinal series next weekend (March 15-17) at Schneider Arena against an opponent to be determined. All quarterfinal games will be streamed live on Flohockey.tv.
