CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - With the game on the line, Filip Forsmark lit the lamp on a great dish from Filip Karlsson-Tagtstrom, as the Swedish connection lifted the Merrimack College men's hockey team past #14 Boston College, 4-3, Saturday night at Conte Forum.
Forsmark put home his third of the season in the final four minutes of the game to break the tie and send Merrimack to its second ranked win of the early season. Ben Brar, Hugo Esselin and Karlsson-Tagtstrom also found the back of the net for the Warriors.
Hugo Ollas got his second collegiate start against the Eagles and picked up his first win with 27 saves, including 12 in the third period to keep Merrimack alive.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 4, #14/15 Boston College 3
Records: Merrimack (4-6-0, 2-5-0 HEA) | Boston College (5-4-1, 3-2-0 HEA)
Attendance: 4,246
How It Happened
- Merrimack came out with something to prove in the first period. It started hot with a 6-1 edge in shots on goal at the first media timeout, then the chances started to go in.
- On its second power play of the day, Karlsson-Tagtstrom traded places with Declan Carlile at the top of the left faceoff dot. Carlile then swung a pass to the goal line for Max Newton, who bumped it to the slot for a one-timed finish from Brar to grab the lead.
- Boston College answered two and a half minutes later to knot the game at one, but Merrimack did not let momentum dissipate.
- In the closing four minutes of the frame, Zach Vinnell stretched a long pass to Jake Durflinger in the attacking side of the neutral zone. Durlfinger was unable to control it, but the bouncing puck eventually found Esselin. The forward fed Christian Felton on the far side of the ice, then busted for the net. Esselin was in perfect position for the return pass and he fired home his first of the season in turn. The assist also marked the first collegiate point for Felton.
- After 20 minutes of play, the Warriors held a commanding 15-5 edge in shots on goal.
- Momentum pressed on into the second period and Merrimack took a two-goal lead just over four minutes in. The Warriors put on a great fore check and kept the Eagles from escaping their own zone. Jordan Seyfert created a turnover at the top of the zone, then turned it to the faceoff dot for Logan Drevitch. The senior backhanded the puck along the wall back to Seyfert behind the net. Seyfert quickly played the puck in front of the net to Karlsson-Tagtstrom, who faked, then went to his backhand for his first collegiate goal.
- The Eagles chipped away and eventually got through for a pair just over two minutes apart at the midway point of the second to send the teams tied into the dressing rooms after two periods of play.
- Tension was high in the third period, as both teams looked to find the potential game-winner. Boston College had a chance to win the game midway through the frame with a power play, but Ollas and the Warrior defense came up big to keep it off the board.
- Merrimack started to tilt the ice after the penalty kill and it paid dividends. With four minutes to play, Liam Walsh made a solid play to stop an Eagle breakout in the attacking end. Karlsson-Tagtstrom swooped in and grabbed the loose puck, then backhanded a feed to Forsmark in front, who one-timed home the game-winner.
- Boston College got two shots on goal in the final couple minutes, but Ollas held them out to claim his first collegiate win.
Notes & Numbers
- Brar led all Warriors with five shots on goal.
- Karlsson-Tagtstrom got his first point, goal and multi-point game and also led all skaters with a +2 rating.
- Mac Welsher had an exception night at the faceoff dot with 11 wins on 16 chances.
- Zach Uens led all skaters with four blocked shots.
Up Next
Merrimack treks to Orono, Maine Friday night for the first of a two-game set against the Black Bears in the Pine Tree State. Puck drop is set for 7:30.
