BC splits the weekend Northeastern series, taking the second game 7-1 after a disappointing 2-3 loss on Friday

As the regular season winds down for the Boston College men’s ice hockey team, the importance of each game only magnifies. Coming off of an upsetting 3-2 defeat by the Huskies at Matthews Arena to begin the weekend, the Eagles sought revenge at home.

Someone forgot to tell Northeastern that there was a game on Sunday, as BC assured their vengeance and then some in front of 6,180 at Kelly Rink. Junior forward Brian Gibbons poured in a hat trick and an assist, while assistant captain Ben Smith contributed two helpers of his own en route to a 7-1 annihilation of the Huskies.

The Eagles improved their conference record to 13-8-2. Boston College played as consistent of a game as they have all year, dominating possession from the outset. The Eagles attempted a staggering 50 shots to just 23 by the Huskies, a bad combination with Northeastern freshman goaltender Chris Rawlings failing to bring his A-game. Although the primary purpose of the goalie is typically to try to stop the puck, Rawlings’ play was best evidenced by a play at the start of the third period in which he inexplicably ducked away from a slap shot from the blue line coming straight for his mask. As expected, this received joyous criticism from the depleted but enthusiastic Eagles student section. Although that shot missed, six others found their way to the back of the net to light the lamp under Rawling’s supervision.

Despite BC’s overwhelming control of the puck, the scoreboard remained untouched until Gibbons’ goal with 28 seconds to go in the first period. From there, the floodgates opened, as the Eagles overcame their finishing problems and poured in three goals in just over three minutes to pull away following the first intermission. Northeastern’s lone goal came late in the second on a two-man advantage power play, which was met by a resounding “NOW WE’RE EVEN” chant from the Conte faithful.

The game was one-sided to the point that the only thing that kept the fans entertained was the ongoing battle between the teams to see who could hit the hardest. As the game slipped away, the Huskies endlessly instigated the Eagles to engage in the physical contest. If nothing else, this game symbolizes a huge confidence-builder for the Eagles, who had failed to play an offensively-sound game since BC’s Beanpot championship win over BU.

As BC looks ahead, they must be sure to take advantage of their next two home games against beatable Merrimack and UMass-Amherst before taking on conference-leader New Hampshire in a home-and-home showdown.

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