BOSTON - Quinn Hutson's goal at 10:52 of the first overtime, and Drew Commesso's 37 saves lifted top-seeded Boston University to a 2-1 comeback win over seventh-seeded Providence in the semifinals of the 38th annual Hockey East Championship Friday afternoon at TD Garden.
The Terriers move on to the title game for the 13th time, second most in league history, and will take on the winner of the second semifinal between second-seeded Merrimack and fifth-seeded UMass Lowell Saturday at 7 p.m. (TV-NESN).
Hutson, on the right side, rapped home a pass from Luke Tuch for his 14th of the season to send BU to the finals. Ryan Greene, who set up the tying goal in the third, also picked up an assist.
Boston University, the league's top scoring team, had been held by the pesky Friars to just eight shots through two periods, and only 15 in regulation. Providence for the game out-shot BU, 38-25. Providence, playing in its third straight overtime match in the tournament, had an early edge in the play, with a 11-2 advantage in shots in the first and 12-6 in the second with Commesso solid in goal for the Terriers. Prior to PC taking its 1-0 lead with 6:35 remaining, the Friars were out-shooting BU, 31-10.
Freshman Bennett Schimek broke through for Providence as his floater from the right side beat Commesso with Liam Valente and Uula Ruikka picking up assists on Schimek's 11th of the season.
Shortly after, BU went on the power play and Commesso kept it a one-goal game stopping a shorthanded breakaway by Nick Poisson. The Terriers would get the equalizer with 2:32 left in regulation on Dylan Peterson's fifth of the year. Greene's drop pass found Peterson, the trailer on a rush into the PC zone, who snapped it past Friars goalie Philip Svedeback. Pro Ambitions Hockey East Rookie of the Year Lane Hutson also added an assist on the play, his league leading 45th point.
Boston U. picked up its attack in the extra session outshooting Providence, 10-4, with Svedeback stopping a breakaway by BU's Matt Brown four minutes in.
Both teams were 0-for-3 on the power play. Svedeback finished with 23 saves for the Friars who finish their season 16-14-7.
Boston University now has won six straight and improves to 26-10-0 under first-year head coach Jay Pandolfo, the Hockey East Coach of the Year.
Game Notes
- Friday afternoon's HEA Semifinal appearance marked Boston University's 26th appearance (13-13) in the HEA Semifinal action since 1985 while it marked Providence's 18th appearance (5-13) in the HEA Semifinals including back-to-back appearances.
- This is the 23rd meeting between the two schools in the Hockey East Championship, BU with a 24-21 edge. It's the first since the 2018 title game won by BU 2-0 at the Garden, and the fifth meeting in the semis, where they had split four previous games. The last semifinal matchup was in 1996 when PC won, 5-4, en route to championship.
- Boston University has the Hockey East's top offense coming into the semifinals with 140 goals scored, 99 in league games.
- With tonight's victory, BU will make their 13th appearance in the Hockey East Championship title game and their first since 2018. BU is 9-5 all-time in Hockey East Championship games.
- Providence is now 13-5-5 this season when scoring first while Boston University is now 7-10-0 when scored on first.
- This afternoon's game will be recorded as the longest semifinal scoreless game with 52:25 of no goals. This game is breaking the record of 47:09 from Maine vs. BU in 2004.
- This is the third straight overtime game for Friars in this year's tourney, all 2-1 decisions. They topped UNH in opening round and beat Northeastern in last Saturday's quarterfinal.
- Following this afternoon's game, Providence is 5-3-7 in overtime games this season while Boston University is now 2-3-0 in overtime games during the 2022-23 season. Both of tonight's starting goalies Philip Svedebäck (PC) and Drew Commesso (BU) were in net for all overtime games for their respective teams this season.
- This afternoon's game is the 15th game Providence has gone to overtime, winning five times (seven ties). BU has needed extra time now in seven games picking up three wins (no ties).
- 11 of the last 16 Boston University Hockey East Tournament games have been decided by one goal. When BU & PC have played each other in overtime games all-time, PC leads the matchup, 7-5-19.
- Boston University is now 11-4 all-time in Hockey East Tournament games and snap what was a 7-game winning streak in Hockey East Tournament games that went to overtime.
- Quinn Hutson collected his first overtime goal and sixth game winning goal of the season.
