Boston College
Merrimack*
Hockey Defeats Merrimack, 3-1
January 08, 2005 | Men's Hockey
Jan. 8, 2005
Captain Ryan Shannon notched his fifth multi-point game as Boston College (11-3-3, 6-1-3) defeated Merrimack College (8-14-2, 1-10-1), 3-1, on Saturday night. The game, played in front of 1,922 at Lawler Rink, was BC's second consecutive win over the Warriors this season and its third-straight conference victory.
Less than a minute into the game, BC came close to putting one on the board. Ryan Shannon pushed hard along the right side and hit Patrick Eaves at the far post. Eaves' one-timer was wide, but the Eagles set the tone with their offensive intensity.
BC knocked on the door again at the 14:00 mark. A give-and-go play with Ryan Murphy feeding Stephen Gionta in front of the net resulted in a shot wide to the left. Even though the score remained knotted at zero, the Eagles controlled the tempo of the game, out-shooting Merrimack 13-3 in the first period.
BC took the lead at the 10:41 mark in the second period when Eaves found the back of the net. The play started with Shannon delivered the puck to defenseman Andrew Alberts at the blue line. Alberts lined up a slapshot, but the shot went high. Eaves, waiting at the far post, took the puck off of the glass and slid it by Warrior goaltender Jim Healey.
The goal was Eaves' team-leading eighth tally of the season.
The Eagles increased their lead to 2-0 at 12:52. Brian O'Hanley got the puck to Dave Spina along the right side. Spina pushed hard into the corner, then put a hard pass on the stick of Shannon in front of the net. Shannon buried the one-timer under the glove of Healey for his second point of the evening.
For the second straight game against Merrimack, BC was held scoreless in the first period and notched multiple goals in the second.
Merrimack got on the board at 6:26 in the third period. In a 5-on-3 situation, junior forward Matt Johnson scooped up a rebound and got it by goalie Matti Kaltiainen. Prior to the goal, Kaltiainen had played four consecutive periods without letting in a goal.
BC brought their lead back to two at 10:32 when Brian Boyle took a pass from Shannon inside the right face-off circle and put it over the glove of Healey. Alberts was also credited with the helper on the goal.
Kaltiainen made 20 saves and notched his seventh win of the season. In the past three games, Kaltiainen has not allowed more than one goal. Healey made 31 saves for the Warriors.
The Eagles have a 7-0-0 record when they lead after the second period.
BC will look to build upon its season-high, five-game win streak this Tuesday when they travel to Yale to take on the Bulldogs at 7 p.m.
