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In two head to head matchups this season, the margin between Boston College and Boston University was razor thin. A pair of late goals turned what could have been a 1 point weekend in to a 3 point weekend for the Eagles. In reality, any result would have been fair aside from one sweeping the other.
BU started the season off 2-3, but since then has gone 14-4-4, with a run of impressive results. Like BC, they have one of the nation's elite offenses. The Eagles and Terriers have nearly identical power play percentages. The area where BC has a leg up is on defense; the Eagles have the nation's 5th best defense at 1.85 goals allowed per game, while BU is 23rd at 2.59.
Even if the two teams didn't just play a tight series, though, history would suggest to expect a tight game between these two. It doesn't really matter how good either team comes in looking on paper.
In the most recent final between these two teams, 2012, BC topped BU 3-2 in overtime in one of the all time classic Beanpot finals.
The previous meeting between the two in the final was in 2010, yet another one goal game, a 4-3 BC win, in spite of the fact that BC went on to win the national title and BU was one of the worst teams in the conference that season. BC's win produced one of the most spectacular Beanpot goals in recent memory.
The two previous finals between these two teams came in 2006 and 2007, both one-goal wins for BU. BU won it in OT in 2007. BC and BU split a pair of one goal championship games in 2003 and 2004 as well. The last time BC met BU in the final and it WASN'T a one goal game was in 2001, when BC beat BU 5-3.
Even when meeting in the first round, BC and BU seem mostly incapable of separating themselves from one another. BC did top a woeful BU team by two goals in 2014, but the first round matchups in 2011 and 2008 were both OT wins by the Eagles.
That 2007 final was actually the last time BC has lost to BU in the Beanpot; the Eagles will hope to keep that streak alive tonight when they take on BU at 7:30 PM. If history is a guide, get the antacids ready.