Once again, the Eagles soar above the rest in the college hockey landscape.
Boston College claimed their fifth hockey national championship and third in the last 5 years Saturday night with a 4-1 win over Ferris State in Tampa, Florida. Steven Whitney scored twice for the Eagles, who won 19 straight games to end the season, while Parker Milner made 27 saves in a performance worthy of being named the Frozen Four's most outstanding player.
Whitney began the scoring for BC only 3:18 into the game after burying the rebound from a Barry Almeida shot that hit off of a Bulldog defender. Ferris State responded two minutes later when Garrett Thompson scored his 11th of the season to tie the game at one.
It was only the second goal given up by Milner in three-plus NCAA Hockey Tournament games.
Milner, however, bounced back after the goal and along with Ferris State goalie Taylor Nelson, both goaltenders became tough to beat. While the Bulldogs heavily challenged the BC defense at times -- including a Kyle Bonis breakaway -- they could not find another goal. Paul Carey tipped a Brian Dumoulin (Carolina Hurricanes) wrister in and the Bulldogs ended up being down 2-1 at the end of the first despite having the better chances.
Neither team scored in the second period as good chances by Chris Kreider (New York Rangers), Almeida and Thompson were stopped by the two goalies. Boston College slowly took over the game in the third period as Ferris State -- who went 0-4 on the power play -- failed to take advantage of a pair of Eagles penalties.
Johnny Gaudreau (Calgary Flames) put the game out reach with 3:02 left in regulation after undressing Bulldog defensemen Brett Wysopal with nifty stickhandling and roofing a backhand shot over Nelson, who made 33 saves in defeat, for his 21st goal this season. Ferris State coach Bob Daniels pulled Nelson in a last-ditch effort but Whitney added an empty-net goal to put the final exclamation point on Boston College's national championship.
For more coverage of Boston College's win, check out BC Interruption and SB Nation Boston. You can also get college hockey coverage from Western College Hockey and SB Nation's NHL Hub's storystream of the NCAA Hockey Tournament.