BOSTON — The Providence Friars beat Boston University at its own game on Saturday night. Because of it, they’re skating away from TD Garden with their first national championship.
The Friars scored two third-period goals against a BU team that all year was the most dominant third-period club in the nation to overcome a 3-2 deficit, winning 4-3.
[scg_html_ff2015]”They had us on our heels a lot of the game,” Providence coach Nate Leaman said of BU’s early dominance. “We managed to kind of hang in there, and saved our best for last.”
Unfortunately for Boston University, Providence’s best was combined with what will be remembered as one of the ugliest goals to change the complexion of a national title game.
Despite being outshot in the period, BU still looked to be in control at the midway point of the third.
Providence’s Tom Parisi picked up a puck in the neutral zone and lofted it in the air. O’Connor fielded it like a shortstop trying to field an infield fly.
Unfortunately for O’Connor and the Terriers, he dropped the puck right between his legs and it slowly trickled into the net with 8:36 left to tie the game at 3-3.
“I couldn’t really see it in my glove,” said O’Connor. “I thought it rolled out of it. I tried to drop and throw it … and it was too late.”
That completely changed momentum for the period.
Keeping the pressure on, Providence forced a BU icing at 13:41. Terriers coach David Quinn called timeout but to no avail. Kevin Rooney won the ensuing draw to Brandon Tanev, who cut across the slot and fired high on O’Connor’s glove side for what became the game-winning goal.
“Kevin Rooney did a great job to win [the draw] back for me and Steve McParland boxed the guys out,” said Tanev. “I was fortunate enough to pick the puck up and get off a clean shot. It happened to go over O’Connor’s shoulder.”
Suddenly, Providence had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
The game, however, was hardly over.
Friars goaltender Jon Gillies had to do what his counterpart could not — hold the lead. And doing so in spades earned him tournament most outstanding player honors.
Gillies stopped A.J. Greer with the left pad with 5:13 left. A perfect redirect by Nick Roberto 27 seconds later required another flashy pad save.
[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000BVYmNiI85b0″ g_name=”20150411-BU-Prov” f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”casc” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_bbar=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”500″ height=”375″ bgcolor=”#AAAAAA” bgtrans=”t” btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”f” trans=”xfade” tbs=”4000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_fullscreen=”f” f_constrain=”f” twoup=”f” f_topbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” f_htmllinks=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”f” f_show_watermark=”f” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”f” f_up=”f” target=”_self” wmds=”llQ6QNgpeC.p1Ucz7U.f229mzrUIcqpYNxzbCPBdq35vNMfol.26.SxoTbE7SAl4zzxwqQ–” ]But the save of the game came after BU had pulled O’Connor for the extra attacker when both Cason Hohmann and Roberto were parked at the left post and Gillies seemingly was down and out.
Somehow Gillies reached back with his stick and kept the puck out of the net as the BU pair simultaneously whacked at the puck.
Seconds ticked away and it was Friars sticks and gloves flying in the air to celebrate the national title.
“It’s something I dreamed of ever since I wanted to play college hockey,” said Tanev. The words can’t describe how I feel right now.”
The Friars actually struck first, finishing a scramble of a play on a rush at 9:25 of the first. Noel Acciari forced O’Connor (39 saves) to make the first save and hit the post on a rebound bid. But Anthony Florentino blasted the loose puck top corner for his third goal of the season and a 1-0 Providence lead.
Boston University answered, however, in a big way. Anti Oksanen fired a shot short-side on Gillies (49 saves) at 12:50. And off the ensuing faceoff, Jack Eichel broke through the Friars defense and fed Danny O’Regan for a backhander at 12:54.
They were the fastest consecutive goals by the same team in NCAA tournament history, breaking a record of five seconds set by Michigan in the first tournament in 1948.
BU held a lopsided 18-6 advantage in shots through one.
Providence, however, answered early in the second. With BU’s John MacLeod in the box for interference, the Friars took advantage. Trevor Mingoia froze the Terriers defense and goaltender O’Connor and fed Mark Jankowski for a one-timer at 4:29, four seconds before the MacLeod penalty expired.
BU didn’t relent and retook the lead at 11:36. Off a faceoff, Oksanen threw a hard, low shot on net that Gillies couldn’t handle and a crashing Hohmann promptly buried the rebound for a 3-2 Terriers lead.
That, however, only set up the wild and wooly third period that led to the Friars’ first national title.
“We beat a terrific opponent tonight,” said Leaman, “and that’s what makes it even sweeter.”
