BOSTON COLLEGE SKATES TO 3-3 TIE WITH BROWN
Senior forward Bill Arnold scores game-tying goal for Eagles

Senior forward Bill Arnold scored the game-tying goal for the Eagles

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Boston College extended its unbeaten streak to seven games, battling back from a late deficit to force a 3-3 draw at Brown on Saturday night at Meehan Auditorium. Saturday's stalemate marked the first contest between Boston College and Brown since Jan. 2, 2000.

Senior Bill Arnold matched a career-high seven-game point streak with the game-tying goal late in the third frame while linemate Johnny Gaudreau extended his point streak to 16 games. Gaudreau assisted on Arnold's goal in his 100th-career game as an Eagle. The Carneys Point, N.J., native has collected 135 points (61-74-135) throughout his time on The Heights.

Senior Kevin Hayes continues his hot streak, scoring his 11th-career power play, along with an assist to bring his point streak to eight games. Freshman Chris Calnan also scored his second career goal with help from sophomore Brendan Silk and senior Isaac MacLeod. Sophomore blue liner Michael Matheson has now accounted for five assists in his last three games, helping out on Hayes' power play tally.

Rookie netminder Thatcher Demko returned to goal for BC for the first time since Dec. 7, stopping 29-of-32 shots for his second tie of the season (4-1-2). Brown's Tyler Steel stopped the same total as BC and Brown matched shot totals, 32 apiece.

The Eagles attacked first after Mark Hourihan's tripping call at 18:41 of the opening period allowed BC to plan for an extra attacker to start the second period. With a couple seconds left on the power play, Hayes buried a wide-open wrister from Arnold from the right dot. Arnold gathered a pass from Matheson down low and quickly fed Hayes for the 1-0 lead 39 seconds into the middle frame.

After both team squandered power play chances early on in the second, Brown tied it up, 1-1, on a tip in front of Demko at 10:40.

Nick Lappin provided Tyler Wood with a good look at the top of the zone. Wood took his chance and hammered it towards the net and Mark Naclerio redirected it past Demko on the doorstep.

Right after Brown killed off another penalty, Brown converted on a turnover in the neutral zone to claim its first lead of the contest.

Zack Pryzbek induced the turnover on the red line and turned it back into BC territory. With Massimo Lamacchia on his side, Pryzbek triggered on Demko and the initial stop was made, but the puck fumbled around in the crease and Lamacchia swept it in at 17:43 for the 2-1 Bears' lead.

Boston College's aggressive forecheck paid off in the openings of the third period.

Adam Gilmour won the draw in Brown's zone and won the puck out to Calnan on the wall. Calnan kicked it up to Silk on the blue line and MacLeod poked it on into the far corner. Calnan skated hard to retrieve and caught Steel at an odd angle and snuck it past him on the far post at 1:55 to tie it up, 2-2.

Twenty-five seconds later, Lamacchia netted his second of the night to recoup the Brown lead. Garnet Hathaway wrangled the puck out of the near corner and Lamacchia scooped it up behind the net. Lamacchia wheeled it around the far side and slipped it past Demko, jamming it through on the post to go back up, 3-2, at 2:20 of the third frame.

Arnold kept the back-and-forth action going, scoring the equalizer at 14:12 of the third on a great play from Gaudreau and Hayes.

Hayes forced himself through two Bears, lifted the puck off of one of their sticks and looked up ice where Gaudreau made his move. With Gaudreau streaking down the left side, Hayes connected on the home run pass almost a third of the ice. Gaudreau took his shot and Arnold cut ahead, tipping Gaudreau's attempt over Steel to knot it up, 3-3.

In the overtime frame, neither team offered a grade-A chance, but both defensive units clogged the middle, preventing any good chances between the circles.

Boston College returns to Kelley Rink for a pair of Hockey East contests next weekend. The Eagles look to move to 2-0 in the Battle of Comm Ave. when BC and BU square off Friday night at 7 p.m. The Jan. 17 game against the Terriers will be broadcast on NESN. On Saturday, Jan. 18, Boston College hopes to avenge its lone Hockey East loss of the season against Maine starting at 7 p.m.

Game Notes

- Johnny Gaudreau's point streak remains intact, assisting on Bill Arnold's game-tying goal on Saturday at Brown. Gaudreau, in his 100th-career game as an Eagle, extended his point streak to 16 games, having accounted for 16 goals and as many assists for a 32-point total. Gaudreau has now surpassed Jerry York in the career points record book and is now tied for 35th all-time with 135 points (61-74-135).

- Bill Arnold matched a career-high, extending his point streak to seven games with the game-tying goal and an assist. During the tear, Arnold has accrued 11 points (4-7-11). This counts as Arnold's second seven-game point streak this season.

- The Johnny Gaudreau - Bill Arnold - Kevin Hayes line remains unbeaten (6-0-1) since joining forces on Dec. 6 against UNH. The line of upperclassmen has scored 16 goals and 24 assists (40 points) and totaled a +40 plus/minus rating.

- Rookie Chris Calnan scored his first goal since the Rensselaer game on Oct. 13. Calnan has posted seven points (2-5-7) in his freshman campaign.