It Was Fate: Boston College To Play Boston University In Hockey East Semifinals

It was meant to be. Whether you're happy about it or not, Boston College will play a suddenly-resurgent Boston University on Friday night in the Hockey East semifinal at TD Garden. BC advanced to the Garden with yet another Hockey East quarterfinal sweep, dispatching Vermont 4-1 to close out the series. BU did their part by beating Merrimack 5-3. And now we wait.

There is one Hockey East quarterfinal game 3 to be played today, as Providence hosts UNH at 4:30 PM on NESN. The winner of that game will face UMass-Lowell on Friday at 5 PM.

Last night's game was defined by the obscene amount of penalties called on Vermont. While most of them were probably justified, I wouldn't really blame UVM coach Kevin Sneddon for feeling hard done by. Frustration mounted early as three power plays came and went without a BC goal. Two more penalties, including a five minute major on Conor Brickley, gave BC a 5-on-3, on which they finally cashed in, with crisp passing giving Steve Whitney a wide open net to rip home a goal.

Pat Brown added a goal in the second period to make it 2-0. Johnny Gaudreau put it away (and put a little polish on his Hobey Baker campaign) with a goal on a beautiful feed by Billy Arnold at 3:53 of the third. Pat Mullane and UVM's Matt White swapped goals late in the third for the final 4-1 margin.

Once again, it was a pretty good effort for BC, though not exactly world-beating. The level of competition is about to increase substantially. The Hockey Gods were never going to be satisfied by BC and BU playing for the last time on December 1. Here we go.

Game highlights from BCEagles.com

Eagles Advance in Hockey East Tourney, defeating UVM 4-1 (via EagleMarketing)