CHESTNUT HILL — Boston College completed a weekend series sweep of No. 5 Maine with a 3-0 matinee victory on Sunday at Conte Forum.
BC improved to 7-1 overall (2-0 Hockey East) to secure its hold on the No. 2 ranking in the USCHO poll. Maine entered the series unbeaten but dropped to 6-2-1 overall, 3-2-1 in Hockey East and will likely fall out of the top 10 rankings.
Sophomore right wing Ryan Leonard of Amherst scored the game winner in both contests while sophomore goalie Jacob Fowler made 26 saves to record his third shutout of the season. Junior left-wing Andre Gasseau scored the insurance goal even strength at 8:36 of the third and an empty netter with seven seconds remaining.
“Another very good hockey game between two very good teams,” BC coach Greg Brown said. “The first two periods were very even and we got some huge saves from Jacob to not get behind.
“Our D-group in general was very good taking ice away. They (Maine) are great at getting traffic to the net and pucks to the net.”
The Eagles kicked off the defense of their Hockey East regular season title on Friday night with a come-from-behind, 3-2, victory. BC rallied from a 2-0 third period deficit to record its signature win of the early season.
Leonard potted the game winner with 1:33 to play in the third. Leonard was the Washington Capitals first round pick (8th overall) in the 2023 NHL SuperDraft.
“Friday was difficult, it was almost a feeling like we stole one,” Brown said. “Friday, we had a very good third but it wasn’t a consistent 60, you couldn’t say we were the better team that night.
“The great thing is that in the locker room the team kept mentioning it. The kids kept reminding themselves that they are going to come and we better be ready and the past experience helped.”
Fowler held up under during a sketchy sequence versus Maine’s potent power play, that began at 5:09 of the first with Eagles’ freshman defenseman Will Skahan serving a deuce for hooking. Fowler secured the near post on consecutive one-timed slap shots from the right circle by Maine senior center Harrison Scott.
Fowler maintained the scoreless deadlock when he stoned left wing Sully Scholle’s bid from the slot on a 3-on-1 break at 18:30. Maine exited the frame with a 10-6 advantage in shots on goal.
“I am a guy that likes to feel it early but you can’t really control none of that,” Fowler said. “I definitely like to get those kinds of shots early in the game and get into it.
“The biggest thing is we are not trying to be the best team in November and the points are huge. I think collectively we have a lot to improve on but by March and April we will be in a position to win trophies and not a weekend series.”
BC opened the scoring on a strong individual effort by Leonard at 10:39 of the second. Sophomore left wing Gabe Perreault connected with Leonard on a transition rush up the right boards. Leonard crossed the blue line unchallenged, slanted diagonally through the high slot, and unleashed a wrister that beat Maine goalie Albin Bolja stick side for his fifth of the season.
“His production is a big part of our success so far this year and we hope it continues,” Brown said. “He plays with such intensity that it feeds throughout our team. When he raises the compete level in practices and in the games and the guys follow him so you love to see him get rewarded.”
BC went up 2-0 on a gritty play in the Maine end. Sophomore left wing Will Vote won a puck battle with Maine’s Josh Nadeau along the end boards and fed Gasseau, who was left unattended at the bottom of the right circle. Gasseau fired a quick wrist shot past Bolja for his third of the season.
“Andre had a great weekend, he was moving his feet the best he has all year and he protected pucks very well against a difficult team to protect pucks against,” Brown said. “He was a huge reason why that (second) line was having a lot of success.”
