By: Sam Zis, Howlings
STORRS, CT – Justin Pearson’s four points (3 goals, 1 assist) led the #17-ranked UConn Huskies to a 6-5 victory over the visiting Boston College Eagles in the last regular season game of the year on Saturday at the Toscano Family Ice Forum in Storrs.
After honoring the team’s senior players, the Huskies came quickly out of the gates and, after creating multiple good chances, would finally solve BC goaltender Henry Wilder with a goal at 1:31. It would be Pearson with his first of three on the night in on a breakaway and buried a backhander to make it 1-0.
After failing to tally in their first two power plays, UCONN would struggle in the remainder of the first. However, Boston College capitalized on their first-man advantage at 5:38. Marshall Warren found the back with a laser off the post to equalize the score at one.
The two Hockey East rivals continued to trade power play opportunities throughout the remainder of the first period. The tie lasted until UCONN’s Ty Amonte snuck a rebound past Wilder to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead with 4:39 left.
Boston College would tie the game for a second time with 5 seconds remaining in the period. Lukas Gustafsson blasted a nearly identical wrist shot to the first goal, but from the other side of the ice.
The teams went to the locker room tied at two, with UCONN leading in shots 14-7
Both teams came out of the locker rooms more interested in a physical battle in the second period and less interested in scoring goals.
With ten minutes left in the period, Huskies Captain Roman Kinal took a 5-minute major for cross-checking. In the first half of the penalty kill, the Huskies were dominant. The Huskies’ team speed forced Boston College to take a penalty with 2:30 remaining in the penalty.
Matthew Wood tallied a shorthanded breakaway for UCONN off an Eagles’ mistake, scoring off a nice pass from Hudson Schandor with 7:17 remaining in the period to make it 3-2 in favor of the home team.
But the Huskies were not done scoring in the period. Pearson would tally his second of the night off an excellent play from his knees in front of the Eagles’ net with just over 2 minutes left in the period to make it 4-2.
The third period started well for the Huskies as Boston College took a penalty 42 seconds into the period. Pearson would complete his hat trick on the ensuing power play and give UCONN a 5-2 lead.
Just minutes later, UConn center Samu Salminen took a rarely-called face-off violation penalty. Then, with Boston College needing a power play goal to stay in the game, Andre Gassesu scored for BC with a shot off the post to make it 5-3 with 17 minutes still to play.
Huskies freshman, Jake Black, sniped a shot past a fallen Wilder for his first NCAA goal, making it 6-3.
Boston College continued to battle and answered with 7:33 to play in the third period. Oskar Jellvik scored a one-timer goal to keep the game within reach at 6-4.
Boston College continued to push throughout the third and pulled their goalie with 2:14 to play. With the extra man on the ice Boston College forward, and Colorado Avalanche draft pick, Colby Ambrosio capitalized to bring the game to within a single goal at 6-5.
Boston College continued to look for the tying goal; however, due to the speed of Uconn took a tripping penalty with 1:20 to go in the contest, sealing the deal for UConn.
The Huskies are 20-11-3 and 13-9-2 as they head into the playoffs.
NOTES:
Pearson’s hat trick is the first at the new Toscano Family Ice Forum and the first for UCONN since Jonny Evans put four past Merrimack on January 30, 2021.
The Hat Trick by Pearson is the fifth for the Huskies since entering Hockey East.
