CHESTNUT HILL - Charlie Coyle and Yassin Cisse scored goals in the first period to give the Boston University Terriers an early advantage, one that they would not relinquish as BU coasted to a 5-3 victory over the Boston College Eagles in their second meeting of the season on Friday night at Kelley Rink inside Conte Forum.
"I thought the first period was a great college hockey game," said Terriers head coach Jack Parker. "I thought the first period was as good as it gets up and down the ice, making good plays, people being smart. After that, I thought the game deteriorated."
Boston University (8-4-1, 6-3-1 Hockey East) improved to 2-0 against Boston College (10-5-0, 7-3-0 Hockey East) this season and has outscored the Eagles, 10-3, through six periods of hockey. Despite the win, BU recorded far fewer shots on goal than BC did, totaling 15 shots to the Eagles' 45. Kieran Millan had an impressive 42 stops for the Terriers.
"The only reason why that game wasn't a hell of a lot closer was because Kieran Millan played unbelievably," said Parker. "He was fabulous tonight."
Coyle's goal was his third of the season and was scored on a power play, assisted by Matt Nieto and Max Nicastro, at 10:15 of the first period. Cisse tacked on an eve-strength goal, assisted by Alex Privitera and Coyle, at 17:03 of the period to give the Terriers a comfortable two goal lead.
The second period featured a barrage of shots from the Eagles, 23 to be exact, while the Terriers were held to just one shot on net. However, Eagles goaltender Parker Milner (10 saves) did not record a single save in the period, as Garrett Noonan scored an unassisted even strength goal at 13:21, building to BU lead to 3-0 at the time.
BC finally got onto the board at the 16:59 mark of the second period, when Bill Arnold potted his eight goal of the season (assisted by Tommy Cross and Chris Kreider), to cut the Terriers lead to 3-1.
Cason Hohmann scored his first goal of the season at the 8:00 mark of the third period, giving his Terriers a 4-1 lead. Hohmann's goal was assisted by Sean Escobedo and Adam Clendening.
Edwin Shea scored has first goal, assisted by Kevin Hayes at 14:34 of the third period, but Corey Trivino put the nail in the coffin with his shorthanded empty net goal at 16:57 of the period. Barry Almeida scored the game's final goal (assisted by Arnold) at 17:16, bringing the Eagles within two goals.
"We tried to give the game away," Parker said. "In the third period it was like, you know, OK, we're up. It's a recurring theme with this club of mine that they won't finish people off."
BC and BU will meet again in the finale of a home-and-home series at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
For more Boston College Hockey coverage, visit our team blog, BC Interruption.