CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - No. 5 Boston College exploded for 10 goals to sweep 10th-ranked Northeastern in a home-and-home series with a convincing nine-goal victory on Friday night at Kelley Rink.
The Eagles (21-8-1, 14-6-0 HEA) extended their winning streak to five games and moved four points clear atop the Hockey East standings.
Boston College received goals from eight different players in the victory, lighting the lamp 10 times for the first time since an 11-0 shutout of Army at Conte Forum on Nov. 10, 2013.
BC led 1-0 after 20 minutes but erupted for six goals in the second period to blow the game wide open.
Underclassmen Marc McLaughlin and Matt Boldy led the way with two goals and an assist apiece, while rookie Alex Newhook had a goal and two assists to extend his point streak to eight games. Senior defenseman Luke McInnis finished the night with three assists and classmate David Cotton picked up a pair of helpers.
Graham McPhee (4), Logan Hutsko (18), Ben Finkelstein (5) and Aapeli Räsänen (10) collected goals to round out the scoring. Räsänen's came shorthanded in the third period for BC's NCAA-leading 11th shorthanded goal of the season.
Spencer Knight stopped 18 of the 19 shots he faced for the 20th win of his rookie season. Freshman Jack Moffatt played the final 9:16 and made four saves in his BC debut.
Boston College closed the night with a 37-23 advantage in shots on goal, including a 19-5 edge in its dominant second period.
The Eagles were 1-for-3 on the power play and a perfect 4-for-4 a man down.
SCORING
1st Period
4:14, BC Goal (1-0) - Jack McBain's forecheck forced a turnover in the right corner and McLaughlin slipped a pass to the right doorstep to a wide open McPhee to finish.
2nd Period
1:05, BC Goal (2-0) - Cotton led Newhook into the Northeastern zone on a partial breakaway and the freshman's wrist shot deflected off Craig Pantano's glove into the net.
5:27, BC Goal (3-0) - McLaughlin picked up an errant exchange behind the NU net and banked the puck off Pantano from a negative angle for an unassisted tally.
6:24, BC Goal (4-0) - Mattila centered a pass from the right wing into the high slot for Hutsko, whose heavy one-timer beat Pantano high blocker side.
9:36, BC Goal (5-0) - Boldy reeled in a give-and-go pass from Newhook at the right side of the net and slipped a low shot inside the near post glove side.
12:28, BC Goal (6-0) - Boldy turned to spin a forehand shot on target from the high slot and Hardman tipped the puck under Pantano's pads.
15:24, BC Goal (7-0) - Marshall Warren sent McLaughlin up the left wing and the sophomore's initial attempt was denied, but he tucked the rebound home for his second of the night.
17:15, NU Goal (7-1) - Matt Thomson unleashed a shot from the right wing circle which beat Knight short side high.
3rd Period
2:19, BC Goal (8-1) - Newhook set up Boldy driving to the net from the right wing and the rookie cut to his forehand to finish past Connor Murphy at the edge of the crease.
10:44, BC Goal (9-1) - Finkelstein spun to his backhand in the left wing circle and shoveled the puck on net as it deflected off an NU stick into the net.
14:15, BC Goal (10-1) - Räsänen collected a turnover at his defensive line before skating up ice and snapping a shot glove side from the right circle.
UP NEXT
Boston College hosts Merrimack next Thursday (Feb. 27) at 7 p.m. at Kelley Rink on NESN.
