If there were any doubts that the physicality from Friday night’s matchup between No. 12 Boston College men’s hockey and No. 14 Providence would continue into the second game of the series, they were put to bed nearly immediately.
Providence was called for a five-minute major less than five minutes into the game, and from that point, it felt like there was always someone in the penalty box.
BC took advantage of those penalties, scoring three power-play goals, but it was not enough for the Eagles (11–8–1, 7–5–0 Hockey East) to overcome the Friars (13–7–2, 8–3–1) as Providence emerged with a 4–3 victory and the weekend sweep.
In total, the teams combined for 18 penalties, 15 power-play opportunities, and 58 penalty minutes.
“It was an intense, intense hockey game,” BC head coach Greg Brown said. “They wanted physicality to be kind of their identity to start the game, and it took us a bit to get into that.”
BC dominated special teams, going 3 of 8 on the power play and holding a strong Providence attack to just 1 of 7.
“We did a nice job on the PK,” Brown said. “Got some great clears, blocked some shots when we had to, and Louka [Cloutier] made some big saves.”
BC found themselves behind just three and a half minutes into the game. After a series of saves left Cloutier sprawled on the ice, John Mustard found himself with the puck and a clear shot at the goal, which he buried.
But the physicality that had been present throughout the series came back to bite Providence when Hudson Malinoski was called for a five-minute major. Not only did that penalty lead to a game-tying, power-play goal from Andre Gasseau, but it also ended Malinoski’s night.
Then it was BC’s turn to let up a shorthanded goal. Tanner Adams used the man advantage to set himself up right in front of the crease and give the Friars the 2–1 lead.
The scoring for the period didn’t end there, as Jonathan Fauchon added on another goal with 2:50 left in the first. That gave the Friars a 3–1 lead, which they carried into the first intermission.
The opening period was a complete reversal of Friday night’s matchup. After outshooting the Friars 46–19 in the first game, BC found itself with a 13–4 disadvantage during the opening 20 minutes.
“The first period tonight we were under siege,” Brown said. “They came out with a whole lot more intent.”
BC’s turnover issues from Friday reared their ugly heads in the second period. Providence intercepted an Eagle pass and turned it into a 3-on-1. Cloutier made the initial save but could not cover up the puck before Logan Sawyer found it and slid it across the red line to make it 4–1.
The physicality of the game helped BC to stay in it. Concurrent Providence penalties turned a Friar power play into a 4-on-3 and then a 5-on-3 for the Eagles.
BC was able to take advantage of that two-man advantage. After a number of saves from Jack Parsons, Ryan Conmy buried a one-timer past his shoulder to cut the deficit to 4–2.
BC kept up its penalty kill into the third. Despite being called for four penalties during the period—including over a minute of 5-on-3—BC did not surrender a goal in the third. Cloutier, despite allowing four goals, came in clutch during that stretch and kept BC in striking distance.
“[Cloutier] made some great saves to keep it close and give us a chance to get back,” Brown said.
The Eagles finally got that chance when Quinn Mantei was called for Providence’s second five-minute major of the game with just over four minutes remaining. Luka Radivojevic immediately took advantage, burying BC’s third power-play goal of the game just five seconds later to cut Providence’s lead to one.
That’s all BC would get. Providence’s penalty kill turned on the heat for the final three minutes, and an interference penalty on Conmy took away the man advantage and all but ended the game for the Eagles.
“The end of season is gonna be tight the way our league has gone,” Brown said. “Every game is going to have huge importance and just gonna have to keep battling and figure out ways to come out on top.”
