Sanford Goal Sends Boston College Past Providence, 3-2
Freshman forward Zach Sanford posts goal and assist for Eagles

Freshman forward Zach Sanford scored a goal and an assist for the Eagles
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
2nd 2:36  BC1-0 EV Alex Tuch (8)Adam Gilmour/13
3rd 4:24  BC2-0 EV Noah Hanifin (4)Michael Matheson/15, Zach Sanford/13
3rd 5:08  PRV1-2 EV Kyle McKenzie (1)Anthony Florentino/8, Nick Saracino/15
3rd 8:01  PRV2-2 EV Shane Luke (9)Anthony Florentino/9, Mark Jankowski/14
3rd 10:52  BC3-2 EV GW Zach Sanford (5)Adam Gilmour/14, Alex Tuch/11
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd Final
Providence  0022
Boston College  0123
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd SOG
Providence  561425
Boston College  9131436
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
Providence (16-9-1)  0/5 6/12 0
Boston College (16-8-2)  0/5 7/14 0
Providence Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Jon Gillies (L, 14-9-1)58:383 9121233
Empty Net1:220     
Boston College Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Thatcher Demko (W, 14-7-2)60:002 561223

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - For the second time in five games, all three rookie Eagles scored to lead No. 14 Boston College past No. 12 Providence, 3-2, Friday night at Kelley Rink as Zach Sanford put away the game-winning goal midway through the third period.

Sanford linemates, rookie Alex Tuch and second-year forward Adam Gilmour, combined for six points in the victory (2-4-6). Tuch opened the scoring early in the second while freshman defenseman Noah Hanifin logged his fourth of the season to begin the third. Tuch added a helper while Gilmour posted a pair of assists, including the primary on Sanford's game-winning marker. Both Sanford and Hanifin registered a game-best six shots.

The Eagles have lost only one game in their last 12 appearances, much thanks to sophomore goaltender Thatcher Demko. The San Diego native has limited BC's opponents to two goals or less over the course of the Eagles' hot streak and tonight was no different, stopping 23-of-25 shots. PC netminder Jon Gillies stopped 33 shots as Boston College outtriggered the Friars, 36-25. BC has outshot its last five opponents.

Friday's contest was heavily penalized but neither team cashed in. Each club finished 0-for-5 on the power play.

The first period concluded with little offense on either end as the Eagles outshot PC, 9-5, in the opening frame.

Each club had one grade-A chance as Sanford was denied a breakaway mid around 9:30. Demko came up big on the other end, turning away a 3-on-2 rush for the Friars at the 7:00-minute mark.

A flurry of penalties occurred toward the end of the first and carried into the second after Hanifin was cited for hooking 34 seconds in.

The Eagles killed off the Hanifin infraction and as he exited the box, Gilmour shifted into the neutral zone and induced a turnover on the red line. Tuch was streaking the other way towards PC's end and corralled the loose puck on the blue line. With a step on his defender, Tuch snapped a wrister short side past Gillies at 2:36 of the second period to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

As the second period was approaching the horn, Hanifin was denied a backhanded bid on the shortside, but made up for it shortly after the start of the third stanza.

Sanford dug a puck out of the corner and flung it up to Matheson in the neutral zone. After the Eagles all retreated to get back onsides, junior Michael Matheson pushed ahead to Hanifin with momentum. Hanifin powerfully charged towards Gillies and his sharp backhander found a hole through Gillies at 4:24 to give Boston College a two-goal, pad, 2-0.

Providence responded promptly with a pair of goals to tie it up midway through third with strikes at 5:08 and 8:01.

Kyle MacKenzie scored his first-career goal thanks to a great screen set by Ross Mauermann in front of Demko to cut into the Eagle advantage.

MacKenzie hauled in a feed from Anthony Florentino and took a chance from out deep. Maurermann impeded Demko's sight line and the puck found the back of the to make it a 2-1 game.

Just under three minutes later, Shane Luke scored in transition after a faceoff in Providence's end. Mark Jankowski won the draw to Florentino and Luke got ahead of the rush. Florentino connected on the home run pass and Luke tied it up with a hard wrister with no one around at 8:01 to knot it, 2-2.

The Eagles formulated another rush on Gillies and Sanford ended up as the beneficiary off of Gilmour's attempt.

Tuch rushed the puck into the corner and took his lane around the net. With Gilmour flanking in from the top of the zone, Tuch needled a pass for the one-timer. The play was successful, but Gillies made the initial kick save. The puck squirted out to Sanford who was in perfect position to hammer home the carom to close out the Friars at the 10:52 mark of the third.

Providence made several attempts as regulation waned and eventually yanked Gillies for the extra attacker. The Friars were never able to establish a cycle with the extra skater and the Eagles held on to preserve the 3-2 triumph.

With the first Monday of February all but here, Boston College will take its first of two trips to TD Garden to square off against Northeastern in the semifinal round of the 63rd annual Beanpot Tournament. The Eagles have won the last five Beanpot Tournament and looking to tie Boston University's record of six-consecutive trophies with a victory in 2015.

Game Notes

-Boston College is now 43-17-3 in games immediately before the Beanpot Tournament.

- Boston College's freshmen class has relished the opportunity to score together. For the second time in five games, Noah Hanifin, Zach Sanford and Alex Tuch, have all scored in the same game. It last occurred against Boston University on Jan. 16.

- Zach Sanford's tally stood as his first-career game-winning goal.

- Adam Gilmour's two-assist performance stands as his sixth multi-point showing of the season, standing as a team best. Gilmour is now leading the Eagles in point scored and first skater to reach the 20-point plateau (7-14-21). Tuch is now second on the roster with five multi-point games after his goal and assists while Friday marked Sanford's third multi-point game.

- Upon conclusion of Friday's results, Boston University and Boston College are seeded first and second, respectively, in the Hockey East standings heading into the first week of the Beanpot Tournament. The Eagles are now ranked 12th in the Pairwise with a few games still left on the docket Friday evening.

- Boston College is 9-1-2 in its last 12 outings. The only time the Eagles have given up two goals or more was the 4-2 loss at Maine on Jan. 18. Every other outings, BC has limited its opponent to two goals or fewer.