Photo by: Brian Fluharty
By: Dakota Randall
Alex Tuch’s overtime goal gave Boston College a 1-0 victory over Boston University Monday night in the 64th Beanpot Championship. A close, physical affair, the game between the cross-town rivals had a little bit of everything.
With 8:53 left in the first period, and BC surging to an early 12-2 shot advantage, the lights in TD Garden turned off, prompting a near 30-minute delay, and a much needed rest for BU.
“It was good for us halfway through the period to kind of regroup,” said BU goalie and tournament MVP Sean Maguire. “Gave us a little break to focus on what we could do better.”
“We talked about a few things we needed to do a better job of, which there was a laundry list of,” said BU head coach David Quinn.
With the electrical malfunctions at the Garden in mind, it was the goalies for both teams that were really lights out.
BC goaltender Thatcher Demko was on top of his game all night, finishing with 30 saves in the victory. It was Maguire, though, who was immense early and often for the Terriers.
The senior net-minder stood on his head in the first period, recording 23 saves by intermission. In the closing minutes of the first frame, the game opened up, as both teams took turns trading penalties and breakways. With 1:45 left in the period, BC’s Miles Wood broke free on a short-handed attempt, but Maguire stood tall, preserving the tie.
BU had few answers for the Eagles in the game’s first 20 minutes, as the Terriers were outshot 23-12.
“They certainly had a majority of the chances in the first,” said Quinn. “We felt very fortunate to get out 0-0 after one.”
BU came out stronger in the second period. The ice leveled-off, and both teams struggled to create any good scoring chances. While the game slowed down, the physicality went up.
Freshman Jordan Greenway, the talented 6’5 – 230 pound BU forward found himself in the middle of multiple scrums throughout the frame. with 12:33 remaining in the period, Greenway charged the net after Demko made a save, making brief contact.
BC’s Casey Fitzgerald took exception, and the two players ditched their gloves and helmets and engaged in some pushing and shoving. Fitzgerald was sent to the box for roughing, and Greenway was charged with three penalties, including a game misconduct that sent him to the locker room for the rest of the period.
“We certainly missed him,” said Quinn of losing Greenway, “but i thought we continued play a pretty good second period.”
After a scoreless third, the two schools headed to an overtime period that would ensure the first 1-0 result in Beanpot championship history. Unfortunately for BU, the Terriers came out flat, and Tuch wristed a shot passed Maguire at 1:57 of the overtime, his 11th goal of the season.
“It was a pro-level shot,” said Maguire, who recorded a season-high 42 saves. “I guess I didn’t see it, I’ve made that save a thousand times.”
The win gave BC their 20th Beanpot championship. It was the 22nd time the two schools, that are separated by only three miles, have met in the title game. BU still holds the edge over BC at 12-10.
The game was intensely competitive, as is normally the case whenever these two storied programs play each other.
“The quality of our opponent brought out the very best in us tonight,” said BC coach Jerry York. “It was a terrific hockey game played by two outstanding teams. A classic goaltending battle.”
Next up for the seventh-ranked Terriers (16-8-4) is a crucial home-and-home series with UMass Lowell that will begin at Agganis Arena on Friday night at 7:30. The fourth-ranked Eagles (20-4-4) will host Merrimack Friday at 7:00.
