{"id":146400,"date":"2024-03-23T22:35:42","date_gmt":"2024-03-24T03:35:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/?p=146400"},"modified":"2024-03-24T11:17:20","modified_gmt":"2024-03-24T16:17:20","slug":"smith-scores-four-as-no-1-boston-college-routs-no-2-boston-university-for-12th-hockey-east-tournament-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/2024\/03\/23\/smith-scores-four-as-no-1-boston-college-routs-no-2-boston-university-for-12th-hockey-east-tournament-championship\/","title":{"rendered":"Smith scores four as No. 1 Boston College routs No. 2 Boston University for 12th Hockey East tournament championship"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Boston College celebrates the Hockey East playoff title Saturday night (photo: Boston College Athletics).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

BOSTON \u2014<\/strong> Consider it a warning to the rest of the country.<\/p>\n

Entering the night knowing it would be the top seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament regardless of the outcome, Boston College emphatically showed why its ranking is altogether fitting and appropriate with a 6-2 win over No. 2 Boston University in the Hockey East championship game on Saturday night before a crowd of 17,850 at TD Garden.<\/p>\n

“Twelve years is a long time,” said BC freshman forward Will Smith, who finished with four goals and was named the tournament’s MVP. “We knew that coming into this game. It’s amazing that we got one coming back to Chestnut Hill.”<\/p>\n

Even with its tournament fate set, BC showed no lack of urgency. After opening the scoring at 5:46 of the first period by snapping a wrister off the skate of a BU defender, Smith put his team up 2-0 with a rocket from the right faceoff circle that sailed over the right shoulder of BU goalie Mathieu Caron (23 saves) at 8:37. Both goals came on the power play, on which BC was a 4 for 5 on the night.<\/p>\n

“It was a heck of a hockey game,” BC coach Greg Brown said. “Special teams were obviously a big part of it. Both our power play and penalty kill had very good nights.”<\/p>\n

With its 12th straight win, BC (31-5-1, 20-3-1 Hockey East) earned its 12th conference tournament championship and first since 2012, when it beat Maine 4-1 and went on to win the NCAA championship under coach Jerry York.<\/p>\n

No. 2 BU (26-9-2, 18-4-2) will carry their ranking into the NCAA tournament (a fact also determined before Saturday’s puck drop). BC has won three of four this season from their crosstown rivals \u2014 BU’s only win over BC this season was a 4-3 overtime victory in the Beanpot on Feb. 5.<\/p>\n

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What an assist \ud83e\udee3#NCAAHockey<\/a> x \ud83c\udfa5 ESPN+ \/ @BC_MHockey<\/a>
pic.twitter.com\/Wb3TY0yVf8<\/a><\/p>\n

— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 24, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n