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BOSTON – The nation’s hottest team extended its winning streak to nine games as No. 6 Boston College defeated archrival No. 8 Boston University 6-2 in the second semifinal game of the Hockey East Tournament in front of a crowd of 15,828 at the TD Banknorth Garden on Friday night.
The second-seeded Eagles improved to 25-11-1 (18-8-1 Hockey East) with the victory in a game televised on NESN. Boston College advances to the championship game of the Hockey East Tournament tomorrow at 7:00pm against top-seeded New Hampshire.
Sophomore Brock Bradford scored two goals and had one assist for BC to extend his scoring streak to nine games and to lead the Eagles to their 12th championship game in school history. Junior Cory Schneider made 30 saves in net for the victory.
Third-seeded Boston University falls to 20-9-9 (13-6-8 Hockey East) with loss and will await its destination for the upcoming NCAA Tournament when the field is announced on Sunday at 2:30pm on ESPN2.
Sophomore Benn Ferriero, freshman Ben Smith, senior Joe Rooney and sophomore Nathan Gerbe added goals for the Eagles. Smith and Rooney also had two assists apiece.
Sophomore Brandon Yip and junior Bryan Ewing each scored third period goals for the Terriers.
Bradford’s first goal came on a blast from the left circle at 7:46 of the first period. With BC on the power play, Bradford beat Hockey East Player of the Year John Curry top-shelf on the stick side. Ferriero and sophomore Brett Motherwell both assisted on the goal that made it 1-0 Eagles.
Boston College opened up a 2-0 advantage on the 21st goal of the year by Ferriero with five minutes to go in the first. Senior Brian Boyle setup the score with a cross-ice pass that found an open Ferriero at the left circle for the score. Rooney also assisted on the play.
Smith gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead at 14:05 of the second period. Working from behind the net Rooney slid a pass in front and Smith was able to get a stick on a loose puck in the slot for the score.
With just 45 seconds remaining in the second period Bradford struck again to make it 4-0 in favor of the Eagles. The sophomore beat Curry five-hole for his 17th goal of the year. Smith and Boyle each picked up an assist.
Boston University pulled within 4-1 when Yipp scored at 1:15 of the third period on the power play. The sophomore blasted a shot from the high slot that beat Schneider top-shelf.
Rooney scored on a rebound at 9:34 of the third to give Boston College a 5-1 lead. The score came after a shot by Smith during a 2-on-1 against BU goalie Karson Gillespie who replaced Curry to start the third period.
BU cut the deficit to 5-2 on Ewing’s ninth goal of the year at 14:35 of the third but the Terriers would get no closer.
Gerbe extended his scoring streak to 10 games with a power-play goal at 16:18 of the third to give BC a 6-2 advantage. He has nine goals and nine assists for 18 points over the last 10 contests.
Both teams finished with 32 shots. BU went 1-for-6 on the power play while BC went 2-for-3.
Curry made 17 saves and Gillespie added nine stops for the Terriers.
Boston College seeks its seventh Lamoriello Trophy in school history and its first since 2005 tomorrow at 7:00pm. NESN will produce the Hockey East championship game, which will be broadcast on several alternate channels live. Log on to hockeyeastonline.com for a complete list of channels that will carry the game live. NESN will air the game on a tape delay basis at 10:30pm.
Tickets are available for Saturday’s Hockey East championship game at the TD Banknorth Garden Box Office or by calling Ticketmaster at (617) 931-2000.
NOTES: Brain Boyle playing defense for the third straight game for BC recorded three assists … The six goals allowed by Terriers were the most they have given up this season … BC went 2-1 against UNH in the regular season series … Tomorrow’s championship game is a rematch of the 2005 title game that the Eagles won 3-1 against the Wildcats.
