Boston College runs away from Merrimack in third period
Warriors can still finish with home ice pending Northeastern's result
CHESTNUT HILL — Merrimack closed the regular season with a 6-0 loss at Boston College on Saturday afternoon.
“That was humbling,” Merrimack coach Scott Borek said. “Through two periods, the scoring chances were pretty even, but we were behind 3-0. In the third period, the game got away from us. But [BC] is a dynamite hockey team. You have to be really detailed in your defensive game against them, and we were the last two times we played them, even the game where we lost at home. We were tonight until the third period. It got away from us, and we didn’t respond the way that we needed to respond.”
The Warriors remained two points ahead of Northeastern after the loss. They’ll face the Huskies in the first round of the Hockey East playoffs on Wednesday. If Northeastern beats Providence in regulation on Saturday night, the game will be at Matthews Arena. If the Huskies don’t win in regulation, the game will be at Lawler Arena.
Wallstrom got the cage
Nils Wallstrom made 27 saves in a 5-2 win over Boston College at Conte Forum on Jan. 10.
Wallstrom, who last saw action in January against Massachusetts, got the start in the regular-season finale on Saturday.
“Max has carried the load recently and he’s been in a lot of hard games,” Merrimack coach Scott Borek said. “Nils had success in the building the last time we were here. I thought we should give him a chance.”
Ryan Keyes took over in the third period and had to make a save on a breakaway just a few seconds after taking over.
“That was a microcosm of the entire game,” Borek said. “We gave, maybe the best player in the country, a breakaway right after we put Ryan into the game. But that’s how the third period went for us. I’m not sure why that was the case, but, you just have to give BC credit. They turned it up, and we weren’t able to hang.”
Moving ahead
Borek thought the Warriors played well for 40 minutes. The Warriors trailed but had a 21-14 edge in shots through the second period and scoring chances, as he said, were about even.
“We just have to put this behind us,” Borek said. “Take the humble pie, because that’s an important part of growth, but don’t get overwhelmed by it. Learn from it, and let’s move on to the playoffs.”
Family affair
Boston College defenseman Eamon Powell was honored as part of Boston College’s senior day. Because the Eagles were playing Merrimack, his younger brother Seamus was able to jump into the family photo at Conte Forum.
“What a moment for that family,” Borek said. “Seamus is an unbelievable human, and Eamon is too, so I was happy they had that moment.”
“When the schedule came out, I saw our last home game was Merrimack,” Eamon said. “It just worked out that way, but it was awesome that he came over for the picture. I’m sure my mom will get that framed.
“[Seamus] has had a great year, and I know he’ll have two more great years at Merrimack.”
Merrimack College (13-20-1): 0-0-0--0
Boston College (26-6-2): 2-1-3--6
First Period: 1. BC Ryan Leonard 29 (James Hagens, Eamon Powell), ev, 7:45; 2. BC Teddy Stiga 12 (Lukas Gustafsson, Will Skahan), ev, 12:58.
Second Period: 3. BC Gabe Perreault 14 (Eamon Powell), ev, 9:19.
Third Period: 4. BC Gabe Perreault 15 (Ryan Leonard, Andre Gasseau), pp, 6:34; 5. BC Teddy Stiga 13 (Andre Gasseau), ev, 9:07; 6. BC Connor Joyce 3 (Jake Sondreal, Eamon Powell), 15:05.
Shots: MC 9-12-6--27; BC 9-5-17--31
Saves: MC Wallstrom (49:07) 17/22, Keyes (10:53) 8/9; BC Fowler (60:00) 27/27
Power Play: MC 0 for 3; BC 1 for 3
Pen-PIM: MC 3-6; BC 3-6
Attendance: 7,063