Boston College Men’s Hockey Defeats Providence 2-1

A 2-1 win over the Providence Friars kept BC’s season alive and put them in the Hockey East semifinals next weekend, just like we all expected. The Eagles needed a goal late in the third period and had to weather a last minute push from the Friars to close things out and move on, which they’ll do when they head to the TD Garden next week for a meeting with UMass on Friday night.

After two straight games of scoring multiple times in the first period, the Eagles got off to a slower stat on Sunday. BC and Providence were scoreless after twenty minutes, with the Friars getting the better of the scoring chances. BC looked dangerous on their only power play opportunity of the period, but were unable to score while Joe Woll made some important saves while also being helped by his post on one occasion.

Michael Kim opened the scoring in the second period, with a vicious wrist shot that beat Hayden Hawkey over his shoulder. Kim’s goal came on the power play for Boston College, and was made possible thanks to a great screen from Christopher Brown. The goal was reviewed to see if Brown interfered with Hawkey, but the call stood and the Eagles had a 1-0 lead just about halfway through the second. Providence had some chances to even things up and BC had a few opportunities to extend their lead as the period continued, but Kim’s goal stood as the lone tally through 40 minutes and the Eagles hit the locker room with the lead.

The Friars tied things up seven minutes into the third with a power play goal of their own. A rebound out front ended up on an unchecked Providence player’s stick, and Woll was not able to get back in position in time to make a save. For the second straight night, it was Logan Hutsko who played the hero for BC, when he scored the eventual game winner with a wicked wrist shot of his own that beat Hawkey on the blocker side with 8 minutes left in regulation. Providence made a push at the end and pulled their goalie with about 90 seconds left, but BC kept them away from the net and Woll was up to the task when he was called upon, allowing the Eagles to take the game and the series by a 2-1 score.

It’s been a tough season all around for BC, but for this weekend at least, they got the job done. They played three solid games against a good team on the road and can walk away knowing they earned the right to keep playing. Whether or not they can do that again next weekend remains to be seen, but it’s nice to get at least one moment like this in a season that seemed lost just a few days ago.