BC tops Northeastern, claims fifth straight Beanpot

Feb 11, 2014 - 5:04 AM Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - Patrick Brown scored twice, including the game winner late in the third period, and Thatcher Demko stopped 29 shots, as Boston College topped Northeastern, 4-1, in the final of the 62nd annual Beanpot from TD Garden.

Johnny Gaudreau extended his point streak to 24 games with a goal and assist for the Eagles, who celebrated their selection as the new No. 1 program in the country by claiming their fifth consecutive tourney title.

Kevin Hayes took home the tournament MVP thanks to scoring in each contest, while the freshman Demko earned the Eberly Award for best goaltender with a .966 save percentage.

BC also extended its unbeaten streak to 15 games (14-0-1).

"No question. Once you have 'em, you want more," said BC head coach Jerry York when asked if his club is using Monday's victory as a motivator for the remainder of the season.

John Stevens provided the lone offense for the Huskies, winless in the February tournament since 1988. Senior Clay Witt played well until the final minutes, eventually making 37 saves in a bitter defeat.

"I like the way our team played," Northeastern head coach Jim Madigan said. "We battled for the whole game, and through two periods I liked where we were. If you can be 1-1, or up a goal or down a goal going into the third period, you've got a chance to win."

Brown finally snuck one home with 5 1/2 minutes left in regulation and BC held a 2-1 edge. He was down on the ice in front of the opposing net and facing the point when he managed to redirect a left-point offering by Isaac MacLeod between the pads of Witt.

"I was thinking deflection the whole way, but I was lucky enough to get a piece of it and it went in," Brown admitted of the trick shot which turned the tide.

Gaudreau potted an easy empty-net score to lock up the victory, then Brown broke in alone once Witt was back in his net and scored with 49.5 seconds remaining.

Northeastern saw the game's first goal wiped out near the 6 1/2-minute mark of the first period due to the net being dislodged seconds before Ryan Belonger flipped it over Demko. The Huskies were given a power play instead, but failed to convert and BC jumped on top shortly thereafter.

Gaudreau was able to carry the puck from the right wing behind Witt and dished back into the slot for a waiting Hayes, who slid it home at 8:40.

Witt kept it a one-goal margin in the waning seconds of the frame, when he stayed square in his crease and stopped a Hayes breakaway.

Both teams flew at each other in a spirited second period, forcing both goaltenders to make acrobatic saves. The underdogs finally drew even when Stevens followed up a Kevin Roy rebound with 1:24 remaining.

Demko's glove stop on Torin Snydeman, who chased down a dump-in through the Boston College zone, kept things even inside the first minute of the third. Though the freshman netminder slid back into his net before the whistle blew, a review to determine whether the puck crossed the goal line was inconclusive.

Earlier Monday, Luke Esposito posted two goals and one assist, as Harvard knocked off Boston University by a 6-2 count in the Beanpot consolation game.

Kyle Criscuolo added a score and two helpers for the Crimson, slotted third for the fourth consecutive year.

Jimmy Vesey contributed a goal and one assist, while Steve Michalek stopped 25-of-27 shots.

Evan Rodrigues and Ahti Oksanen provided offense for the Terriers, who finished fourth for the second straight season and haven't won since 2009.

Sean Maguire allowed four goals on 35 shots in defeat. Anthony Moccia also surrendered a score in relief.