BOSTON - The third-ranked Boston University men's ice hockey team took down archrvial and top-ranked Boston College, 4-3, in the 71st Dunkin' Men's Beanpot semifinals on Monday evening at TD Garden.
Freshman Macklin Celebrini scored the game's first two goals and the Terriers also got tallies from senior Luke Tuch and sophomore Ryan Greene.
BU never trailed in the contest as it built a 4-1 lead early in the third before the Eagles got back into the game with a pair of tallies.
The Terriers held on to improve to 18-7-1 on the year and secure a spot in next Monday's Beanpot final against Northeastern, which earned a 3-2 win over Harvard in the first semifinal.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- BU found itself shorthanded just 32 seconds into the game but successfully killed off the penalty before Celebrini scored on two of BU's first six shots to take a quick 2-0 lead.
- Off a rush, Celebrini collected a pass from sophomore Quinn Hutson and created space in the left slot before wristing the puck past BC netminder Jacob Fowler exactly four minutes into the game.
- Just over a minute later, BU was awarded its first power play of the night when junior Ty Gallagher drew a tripping call on the Eagles.
- Celebrini doubled the lead on the man advantage with a one-timer from the right circle that flew over Fowler's left shoulder at the 6:06 off assists from Lane and Quinn Hutson.
- The Terriers created 19 shots on goal in the opening period and had great chances to add to their lead before settling for the 2-0 cushion heading into the first intermission.
- BC had a pair of power-play chances in the second period and scored on the first one to get on the board and halve the BU lead.
- Will Smith set up Gabe Perreault, who was open at the top of the crease, at the 6:06 mark to make it a 2-1 affair.
- BU was able to successfully kill off the next penalty and later regained a two-goal edge off a BC miscue.
- At the start of a BC breakout, a pass to the corner resulted in a fortuitous bounce to Tuch, who curled inside the right circle before firing a shot to the back of the net at 11:49 of the second for a 3-1 lead.
- The Terriers scored off a faceoff at 4:47 in the third when Tuch found Greene all alone in the slot for his ninth goal of the season.
- Gentry Shamburger started the BC comeback with a goal at 8:07 and Perreault added his second of the night just over three minutes later to get within a goal.
- The Terriers withstood late pressure from the Eagles and secured the narrow victory.
GAME NOTES
- BU will play in the Beanpot title game for the third time in the past four tournaments.
- This marked the Terriers' first win over a No. 1-ranked team since a 3-1 win over BC on Feb. 6, 2021.
- BC held a 37-30 shot advantage.
- Both teams were 1-for-3 on the power play.
- BU recorded 30 blocked shots, including six from senior Cade Webber.
UP NEXT
- The Terriers will return to action on Friday (Feb. 9) when they play host to Merrimack.
- Game time at Agganis Arena is set for 7 p.m.
- The game will be televised on NESN.
