Boston College’s lead lasted just long enough to feel real, but not long enough to hold up.
The Eagles opened fast at Kelley Rink on Saturday night and got the first punch from Dean Letourneau, only to watch Northeastern claw back, trade blows in the second period, and finally finish things off 2:06 into overtime for a 4-3 win.
Alex Pelletier was everywhere for BC, putting together a three-point night with a goal and two assists. Letourneau and Jake Sondreal also scored for the Eagles, who fell to 2-4-1 overall and 1-1-0 in Hockey East. Northeastern moved to 3-2-0 overall and 1-2-0 in league play.
BC wasted no time setting the tone. On an early power play, Pelletier slipped a pass to a wide-open Letourneau, who ripped a wrist shot into the top corner to make it 1-0.
Northeastern answered in the second period, cashing in on two separate power plays to turn the game around. Jacob Mathieu tied it at 8:29, and Amine Hajibi put the Huskies in front at 13:20.
Boston College’s response came quickly and with some bite. Just 13 seconds into its next man advantage, Pelletier found a loose puck at the net front and wrapped it around the Northeastern goalie for his first collegiate goal. Then, a little more than a minute later, Pelletier nearly struck again on the rush, but after his shot was stopped, Sondreal jumped on the rebound and lifted a backhand to the top of the net to push BC back ahead 3-2.
That edge didn’t last long. Northeastern tied it early in the third when Mathieu scored again at 3:00, and from there both teams went quiet until overtime.
The extra session ended midway through the five-minute period when Tyler Fukakusa scored at 2:06 to seal it for the Huskies.
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Boston College Faces A Telling ACC Test Right Before The Postseason
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Louisville arrives with its own bit of urgency after a 3-0 loss to Virginia, so both teams have something to prove in the finale. For Boston College, the game is about more than just closing the regular season on a better note. It is also a chance to measure itself against an ACC opponent that has already made life difficult once this fall, and to do it with the tournament picture starting to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]