Special Teams Lead The Way In Boston College Hockey's 3-1 Win Over Vermont

Fifteen seconds into the game, after a botched faceoff and a defensive breakdown, the Catamounts led BC 1-0.

It was the quickest goal given up by BC all season, and on the road in a hostile environment, you might have worried that BC would have stumbled off its game for a while. But instead, the early goal seemed to galvanize the BC defense, and Vermont wouldn't score the rest of the game.

Three unanswered BC goals later, the Eagles headed into the locker room with a 3-1 road win against the Catamounts, which, coupled with Notre Dame's overtime loss to Providence, propelled BC into the top spot in the Hockey East standings.

The story of the game was special teams. BC's power play scored the go-ahead and insurance goals to put BC up 2-1 and 3-1 respectively, but it was the penalty kill that really won the game for the Eagles. BC went a perfect 7 for 7 on the PK and looked good doing it, keeping Vermont from getting too many top quality chances and shutting out Vermont for 14 minutes while shorthanded.

Still, giving up 7 penalties is a big concern, especially McCoshen's hat trick of minors midway through the game while the Eagles were still defending the 1 goal lead.

BC and Vermont will go right back at it at the Gutterson Field House tomorrow night at 7pm, and now control their own destiny in Hockey East. Interestingly, if the Friars can pull off another win against Notre Dame tomorrow, BC will put themselves in position to clinch Hockey East by splitting with Lowell next weekend if they can sweep Vermont tomorrow.