NCAA HOCKEY BC conquers, advances
Despite Perreault getting tossed, Eagles make a major move into the regional final
PROVIDENCE — In five games leading up to the Hockey East semifinals, Boston College was forced to play without forward Gabe Perreault, the NCAA’s leader in points at the time. The Eagles went 5-0 before he returned from injury for last weekend’s conference semifinals and championship game.
In Friday’s matchup with Michigan Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Eagles would again be without Perreault — for nearly the entire second half of the game, after the freshman was whistled for a five-minute major and game misconduct for contact to the head of Tyrone Bronte at 12:18 of the second period.
At the time, the Eagles were clinging to a 2-1 lead. But just like they had earlier this season, BC responded without the standout youngster.
The Eagles killed off the major, then pulled away in the third period on goals by Connor Joyce, Oskar Jellvik, Ryan Leonard, and Cutter Gauthier to put away the pesky Huskies, 6-1, and advance to Sunday’s regional final (4 p.m., ESPN2) against defending national champion Quinnipiac at Amica Mutual Pavillion.
“Once Gabe picked up that penalty, it honestly kind of helped our team to wake us up a little bit and get us going,” said Leonard. “We like to stay out of the box as much as we can. But we know once we take unfortunate penalties like that, we trust the guys on the bench to get the job done.”
Leonard and Gauthier finished with two goals each, as Gauthier increased his NCAA-best mark to 37 goals in 38 games.
Perreault’s hit initially was ruled a two-minute minor, but Tech coach Joe Shawhan’s challenge was successful, prompting the early exit.
“Gabe was trying to get into the game,” said BC coach Greg Brown. “He felt like he hadn’t been playing his best. But you have to be smart in those situations. You don’t want to be taking fives, especially at this time of the year.
“You’re playing against dangerous teams in the national tournament, so we’re fortunate to get through this one.”
Tech had given the No. 1-ranked Eagles all they could handle for the first 40 minutes, but still trailed by a goal entering the third period. The shots were even at 21 through two periods.
BC (32-5-1) grabbed a 1-0 lead just 36 seconds into the contest on Gauthier’s first. Captain Eamon Powell got to a loose puck off a rebound in his own zone and sent it up along the boards for Jellvik, who kicked it across to Gauthier as he
streaked up the middle for the easy score.
“Jelly had a boatload of speed,” said Gauthier. “I saw there’s a guy in front of me and I just tried to get the correct body position on him and use my speed to open up a lane.
“I called for the puck and he made a great spin pass there, and I was able to just try to get the puck on the ice and make it quick so the goalie wasn’t ready for it. Thankfully, it went in.”
Michigan Tech (19-15-6) responded by peppering BC goalie Jacob Fowler (23 saves) with several good chances before Colby Ambrosio drew a hooking call from Tech’s Chase Pietila at 12:02 to give the Eagles their first power play.
But it was CCHA tourney champ Michigan Tech that found the back of the net, capitalizing on a turnover that set up a two-on-none, with Max Koskipirtti keeping the puck and beating Fowler to even things at 12:55. It was just the second shorthanded goal allowed by BC this season.
BC regained the lead 6:57 into the second period on Leonard’s first of the day. The Amherst native took the puck to the net and was denied initially but managed to score on a rebound.
The Eagles took over in the third period with four goals in the first 11:25. Joyce got it started as BC cycled around the net, with Jack Malone feeding the Westwood native in front for the score at 4:47. Jellvik, filling in for Perreault at left wing with Will Smith and Leonard, added another 1:37 later on a breakaway, getting a nice pass from Smith to beat Michigan Tech goalie Blake Pietila (32 saves) stick side.
The game became a bit chippy after that, with a skirmish breaking out after Leonard took a hit to the head at 7:06. Bronte and Chase Pietila were assessed misconducts, and Leonard and Gauthier each added a goal on the ensuing power play for the final score.
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In the nightcap in Providence, sophomore Victor Czerneckianair scored the game-tying goal late in the second period, then struck again in overtime as Quinnipiac rallied from a 2-1 deficit to beat Wisconsin, 3-2.
It was the fourth straight tournament game that Quinnipiac defeated a team from the Big Ten, having knocked off Ohio State, Michigan, and Minnesota en route to last year’s national championship.
BC and Quinnipiac met in the season-opener Oct. 7, with the Eagles prevailing 2-1 in overtime to spoil Quinnipiac’s championship banner-raising ceremony.