BOSTON- Freshman forward Will Smith turned in his best game of the season on Saturday night, and at a great time for the #1 team in the country Boston College. Smith scored four times and had one assist, that included a pair of powerplay goals in the first period as the Eagles rolled past Boston University 6-2 in the 39th annual Men’s Hockey East Championship game at TD Garden.
Top seeded Boston College scored on their first three powerplay opportunities, with two from Smith in the opening period. His shot from the edge of the left faceoff circle deflcted off a Boston University skate at 5:46 that made it 1-0 Eagles.
Smith snaps one off the skate for a power-play score ✅
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💻 https://t.co/5s2DsDrbpC pic.twitter.com/LvNzqbBhA5— BC Men's Hockey (@BC_MHockey) March 23, 2024
He made it 2-0 at 8:37, taking a cross-ice pass from Gabe Perreault and streaked into the right circle beating Boston University goaltender Mathieu Caron with a wristshot just inside the left post stick side.
Smitty snipe 💥 Stick-side. Top left shelf. 😮💨
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💻 https://t.co/5s2DsDrbpC pic.twitter.com/qbaYf0VN4i— BC Men's Hockey (@BC_MHockey) March 23, 2024
The Terriers got on the board when Gavin McCarthy scored his first career goal at 4:24 of the second period, with a shot from the point that eluded Eagles netminder Jacob Fowler.
Gav's first goal as a Terrier gets us right back in it!!
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— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) March 24, 2024
BC responded late in the stanza with their third straight powerplay goal on a beautiful pass back door from Perreault down low to Cutter Gauthier to take a 3-1 lead to the final 20 minutes.
This sequence was an absolute beauty 🎨
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💻 https://t.co/5s2DsDrbpC pic.twitter.com/AnBnKN3Y57— BC Men's Hockey (@BC_MHockey) March 24, 2024
Smith made it a hat trick at 6:46 of the third period, set up by Ryan Leonard.
The Fresh Prince earns his crown 👑 (or in this case his cap)
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💻 https://t.co/5s2DsDrbpC pic.twitter.com/D0RRddI2uz— BC Men's Hockey (@BC_MHockey) March 24, 2024
Perreault made it 5-1 when he poked home a rebound in the crease after a Boston College flurry at 11:32, their fourth powerplay goal of the evening.
Leno and Cut each tally their second assists of the night as Gabe finishes the job 😤
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💻 https://t.co/5s2DsDrbpC pic.twitter.com/ueX1oZqOn7— BC Men's Hockey (@BC_MHockey) March 24, 2024
Macklin Celebrini had the other Boston University goal on the powerplay at 14:45. The Terriers had gotten a five minute major powerplay after a contact to the head penalty against Jamie Armstrong at 12:27, but could only pick up the one tally from Celebrini. Smith would cap off his big night with an empty net goal at 18:04.
Boston College (31-5-1) had five players with multiple points in the win. Smith had his four goals and one assist, Perreault and Gauthier each had one goal and two assists, while Leonard and Eamon Powell had two assists each. Fowler made 34 saves, and the Eagles went 4-5 on the powerplay which was the difference in the game. Ryan Greene added two assists for #2 seed Boston University in the loss, and Caron stopped 23 shots in net. The Terriers (26-9-2) who are also ranked second in the country, went 1-5 on the powerplay and was looking to become to the first back to back Hockey East Champion since UMass in 2021 and 2022. The loss snaps a seven game win streak. Boston College, who lost the title game in 2017 to UMass-Lowell and in 2019 to Northeastern, wins their first trophy since 2012 when they defeated Maine and their 12th overall. The Eagles have now won 12 straight games. Both teams will be in the NCAA Tournament which begins next week, and the pairings, locations, and times for those games will be announced on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. during the selection show.
Recap/photos by Chris Lessner/Video highlights courtesy of BC Hockey and Terrier Hockey on Twitter
