Boston College Athletics
Gilmour's game-tying goal salvages point at NU
January 09, 2015 | Men's Hockey
Box score
BOSTON – Sophomore Adam Gilmour’s late third-period tally salvaged a point for No. 16 Boston College at Matthews Arena as the Eagles skated to a 1-1 draw at Northeastern on Friday night. The Eagles trailed for a majority of the contest before Gilmour’s marker at 17:45 in the final period of regulation forced the tie.
Gilmour has discovered a penchant for timely goals at Matthews Arena. The Hanover, Mass., native netted the Eagles last overtime-winning goal on Nov. 2, 2013, at the site of tonight’s tilt. Gilmour’s last two goals at Northeastern have been a game-tying goal and an overtime winner.
Sophomore goaltender Thatcher Demko kept the Eagles afloat with 30 saves in his first start back for BC since returning from the World Junior Tournament. Northeastern’s Clay Witt steered away 32 Eagle attempts.
Rookie forwards Alex Tuch and Zach Sanford provided the assists on Gilmour’s game-tying tally.
Neither team could connect in the first frame as each goaltender made benchmark stops in the opening 20 minutes. Witt turned away a strong Ryan Fitzgerald bid midway through the first frame before Demko held the far post, stoning Kevin Roy on a breakaway with about three minutes left.
Northeastern broke the scoreless standoff five minutes into the second frame after picking up its first power play of the night. The Eagles actually registered the first shots during the two-minute window, but the Huskies finally gained the zone and scored with one second remaining in junior Teddy Doherty’s slash.
Colton Saucerman let the puck loose from the top of the zone and the Eagles made an attempt to clear it out, but the puck ended up right on Mike Szmatula’s stick for the successful rebound and a 1-0 NU lead at 5:00 into the second period.
Dalen Hedges nearly doubled the Huskies’ lead with 7:02 left in the second period after ringing a one-timer off the right pipe, but the puck caromed out of harm’s way and the Huskies headed into second intermission with a one-goal lead.
A 4-on-4 situation presented itself at 5:29 of the first, but neither squad posed a formidable threat with the open real estate. Once that window subsided, momentum shifted to the Eagles and Gilmour was the beneficiary to cap the shooting barrage at 17:45.
Boston College ended up outshooting the Huskies, 17-11, in the third period, but Gilmour’s was the one that counted. Sanford triggered the play from up top and Tuch hurled a shot at Witt that popped straight up in the air. Following some uncertainty as to where the disc lied, Gilmour sought it out and stuffed it under Witt’s pads to tie it up.
BC and Northeastern could not determine a winner in the overtime session. Gilmour registered the only official shot on net during the five-minute extra stanza.
Boston College and Northeastern close out the regular-season series tomorrow afternoon on The Heights at 4 p.m. Saturday’s contest will be broadcast live on New England Sports Network (NESN)
Game Notes
- Adam Gilmour’s two-career goals at Northeastern have proved to be timely. The Hanover, Mass., native’s first goal at Matthews Arena took place in the form of the overtime winner on Nov. 2, 2013. Tonight’s goal stood as the game-tying marker.
- Adam Gilmour’s three-game goal scoring streak (Jan. 1-9) marks a career long is just the second time an Eagle has scored a goal in three-consecutive games. Ryan Fitzgerald turned the trick in BC’s first three games of the season (Oct. 10-24).
