By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
The Boston College Eagles took five of a possible six points from a crucial Hockey East series against UConn this weekend, with their Boston Bruins draft picks all making significant contributions. The Eagles and Huskies entered their matchup neck and neck in the Hockey East standings, with both hovering near the NPI cut line, and a series win carrying major implications for the Hockey East tournament and NCAA qualification.
BC made a statement Friday night, thumping the Huskies 5-2 in Conte Forum. James Hagens scored his second hat trick of the season, while Dean Letourneau and Andre Gasseau both recorded three assists, giving the Eagles the upper hand heading into Hartford on Saturday. A game misconduct for UConn’s Joey Muldowney for spearing Dean Letourneau in the dying seconds set the stage for an eventful Saturday afternoon.
The temperature spiked early as the two teams combined for twelve penalties in the first period alone, including three separate matching minors. The Huskies struck first during a four-on-three power play chance as Kaden Shahan found open ice at the faceoff dot, took a cross-ice feed, and blasted his shot past BC goaltender Louka Cloutier to open the scoring.
The Eagles drew two power plays in the last seven minutes of the period, and Dean Letourneau converted on the latter to tie the game with his 18th goal of the season. The truculence only continued from there, with the last of the matching minors coming soon after the tying goal, leading to carryover four-on-four time through the intermission.
Cooler heads prevailed after the chaotic opening frame, much to the Huskies benefit. UConn dictated play for most of a more free-flowing second period, with a handful of Grade-A scoring opportunities being thwarted by either Cloutier or the post. Outside of Landan Resendes striking a post of his own, BC struggled to generate much offense in a period that, ironically, not a single penalty was called after what transpired beforehand.
The third period began much like the second, but BC gradually shifted momentum and started getting the looks that UConn wasn’t able to convert earlier. The Eagles cranked up the pressure as the clock wound down, but Huskies goaltender Tyler Muszelik, with a little help from his defense, kept the game tied into overtime.
BC struck quickly in overtime, taking just 33 seconds to secure the victory and the extra points. Gasseau carried the puck from his defensive zone all the way into Muszelik’s crease, drew all the Connecticut defenders toward him, and found Lukas Gustafsson unmarked in the high slot, who pounded home the feed to end the game.
A secondary assist from Hagens on the game-winning goal gave him, Gasseau, and Letourneau four points apiece over the weekend, contributing to every goal the Eagles scored. Postgame, BC Head Coach Greg Brown praised Gasseau, saying, “He’s so key to us in every aspect of the game” and noted that while BC was able to survive the first half without him, his return has given the team a boost.
Brown also commended Hagens’ recent performance, saying he’s shown a “different level of detail” and that his improved defensive play has led to more offense. Hagens extended his point streak to nine games with the assist tonight, and has 10-10-20 in 15 games since returning from the World Junior Championships in mid-January. “His game as a complete game has taken a huge step,” Brown added.
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