PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The third-ranked Boston College men's hockey team overturned a 2-1 deficit en route to a 3-2 victory in overtime against No. 10/11 Providence in Hockey East action on Tuesday night at Schneider Arena.
BC improves to 8-2-0 overall and 3-1-0 in Hockey East, while Providence drops to 7-3-2 overall and 5-2-2 in league play.
Going into overtime for the first time this season, the game very nearly went to a shootout until Ryan Leonard (Amherst, Mass.)capitalized on a loose puck in front of the Providence goal. Leonard and James Hagens (Hauppauge, N.Y.) battled the Friars defenders and Leonard was able to maneuver the puck around the defenseman and past the goaltender for the win.
Trailing in the third period, BC took advantage of an extra attacker opportunity on a delayed penalty call. Leonard and Gabe Perreault (Hinsdale, Ill.) connected on a give-and-go through the offensive zone as Leonard smashed home the shot from just outside the crease to tie the game.
The Eagles wasted little time scoring their first goal of the night, finding the opener less than one minute into the opening period. After a Providence turnover in the neutral zone, Leonard quickly found J. Hagens, who then launched a pass forward to Perreault. Perreault skated in before going five-hole on the goaltender for his sixth goal of the campaign.
Providence scored the equalizer just 27 seconds into the second period, before adding a second goal minutes later to take a 2-1, scoring off a turnover in the Boston College defensive zone.
Jan Korec (Bratislava, Slovakia) made 24 saves tonight in his first start of the season, earning his first win of the campaign.
SCORING
1st 0:54 BC Gabe Perreault (James Hagens, Ryan Leonard)
2nd 0:27 PC Clint Levens (Austen May, Taige Harding)
2nd 3:08 PC Ryan O'Reilly
3rd 15:56 BC Leonard (Perreault, Eamon Powell)
OT 4:12 BC Leonard (J. Hagens, Perreault)
GAME NOTES
- Gabe Perreault's goal was the fastest BC has scored in a game this season
- Ryan Leonard has now scored in four straight games
- Leonard now has nine points in the last four games
- This is the first win for BC at Schneider Arena since Dec. 5, 2020
- The Eagles killed off both Providence power-plays to remain perfect on the penalty kill this season
- This is the fourth game this season in which Perreault has recorded multiple assists
- Leonard now has four game-winning goals this campaign
- James Hagens has now registered multiple assists in four games
- The Eagles finished with 39 shots on goal, their highest in a game this season
UP NEXT
BC takes on Northeastern this weekend in a home-and-home series. The Eagles host the Huskies on Friday evening at Kelley Rink before making the trip to Matthews Arena on Saturday. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. and will broadcast live on ESPN+.
