BOSTON - Was there any other way to end it? Boston College and Boston University met for the 21st time in the championship game of the 2012 Beanpot on Monday night at TD Garden, and it went exactly how you would think.
Blowout? Of course not. Dull game? Not on your life. Instead, the Eagles and Terriers did what just about everybody expected them to do: put on a thriller. Naturally, three periods weren't enough to settle this game. Overtime? You bet.
And when all was said and done, it was the Eagles who came out on top. Once again.
Bill Arnold was the hero for the Eagles, scoring the game-winning goal with 6.4 seconds left in overtime to lead BC past the Terriers, 3-2, to claim the 2012 Beanpot championship -- their third straight and fourth out of the last five years.
Johnny Gaudreau, who had a pair of goals in the Eagles' semifinal win and had one assist on Monday, was named the MVP of the tournament. Kieran Millan, the Terriers' netminder, was named the goaltender of the tournament.
The victory gave Boston College its 17th championship in the Beanpot, and the Eagles improved to 71-49 overall in the storied tournament. Boston University, meanwhile, fell to 85-35 in the Beanpot and finished second for the 20th time.
Pat Mullane put the Eagles on the scoreboard first as he held the puck just long enough to slip it past Millan at 8:54 of the opening period. Mullane's goal was his fourth of the year and was assisted by Chris Kreider (16).
The lead would hold through the end of the period, but Garrett Noonan had his first of two goals on a power play at 15:11 of the second period, assisted by Matt Nieto (19) and Alex Chiasson (19), to knot the score at one goal apiece. Kreider answered with his 19th score of the year on an assist from Gaudreau (12) at 18:42 of the middle period, putting BC back on top, 2-1.
Noonan stuck again for his 11th goal at 7:12 of the third period, tying the game for Boston University at 2-2. Noonan's goal came at 7:12 of the period on a power play and was assisted by Adam Clendening (23) and Chiasson (20).
Millan stopped 44 pucks and was nothing short of outstanding in overtime, but he couldn't hold off Arnold at the end. Parker Milner had 32 saves on 34 shots and also played a fantastic game in between the pipes for Boston College.
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