BC 5, Icecats 2

Boston College took a four-goal lead, then held on through a hectic third period to take the seventh Hockey East tournament title in school history, winners of a 5-2 title game over the University of New Hampshire. 

Welcome to the TD Banknorth Garden, where the University of New Hampshire takes on Boston College in search of its first Hockey East tournament title since 2003. With three minutes remaining in the third period, the Eagles own a 5-2 lead.

BC got on the board with the teams skating four a side, when Jacob Micflikier turned the puck over in the offensive zone and Matt Greene beat Regan on his glove hand with a shot from the circle. Considering how well the UNH goalie has been playing this postseason, the on-the-soft-side shot was certainly one he wishes he could have back.

The Eagles expanded their lead with 2:07 to go before the break, again capitalizing on a turnover, and again with the teams playing four on four. This time Trevor Smith coughed up the puck, leading to Benn Ferriero's slot slapper that got the edge of Regan's glove -- but was ultimately too far out to catch, and bounced into the net.

UNH's mistakes continued to cost them in the second, when this time Regan hung himself out to dry. Playing the puck in the corner, he seemed confused as to whether to backhand it behind the cage or play it along the boards, and before he decided Nathan Gerbe was on top of him. Deflecting the puck into the slot, Brock Bradford took it there and fired into the empty net for a 3-0 edge. That came with 1:22 left in the middle stanza, and undid what was otherwise a pretty good period for the Wildcats.

Gerbe got in the act himself about seven minutes into the third, when Cory Schneider's save on Chris Murray redirected into the neutral zone and Brian Boyle found it with only open ice ahead of him. Soon it became a three-on-none break, and Boyle found his teammate at the top of the crease for the score.

UNH got that one back a couple minutes later, when Bobby Butler's point blast caught the stick of a BC defender and tipped over Schneider to make it 4-1. Then, a couple minutes after that Trevor Smith converted on a chance down low, making it 4-2, and suddenly there is life in the left-for-dead favorites.

The Wildcats continued to pressure the Eagles from there, but couldn't get another before Brian Boyle buried the puck into the empty net for the 5-2 final.

GAME NOTES

• Those looking for this game on television should turn to CN8, not NESN, which is airing a Bruins game.
• Kevin Regan and Cory Schneider, the league's two choices as honorable mention all-stars, are in the nets.
• UNH is again without wing Brett Hemingway (stomach virus) and is using the same lineup it did last night.
• BC outshot UNH, 19-13, in the opening period, and 27-22 through two frames.
• The Wildcats will start the second with 1:13 remaining on a power play.