Eagles Top Huskies 5-3 in Hartford

HARTFORD, Conn. – Boston College held off a third period comeback from UConn on Friday night to secure a 5-3 Hockey East victory at the XL Center and sweep the regular season series from the Huskies 3-0-0.

Ben Finkelstein scored his first goal in a BC sweater and added two assists in the second period, while rookies Jack McBain (goal, two assists) and Oliver Wahlstrom (goal, assist) had multi-point performances.

The Eagles (9-12-3) improved to 9-4-3 in Hockey East and took over sole possession of second place in the league, while UConn fell to 7-17-2 (2-12-2 HEA).

Wahlstrom rifled a wrist shot into the upper right corner seven minutes into the first, followed by a power play redirection from McBain at 5:06 of the second.

Ruslan Iskhakov followed his own rebound less than four minutes later to put UConn on the board, but Ron Greco's first of the year restored the two-goal cushion at 14:33. Finkelstein then located his own rebound during a two-man advantage late in the frame to put BC ahead 4-1 after two.

The Huskies quickly drew one back at 1:06 of the third on Iskhakov's second of the night, and Wyatt Newpower's 5-on-3 one-timer cut the lead to one with 14 minutes remaining.

Joseph Woll (27 saves) made a pair of key stop with six minutes left, including an outstretched right pad save at the left post to deny Miles Gendron of the game-tying goal.

Boston College killed off a late UConn power play, including a brief 6-on-4 situation, and Aapeli Räsänen sealed the points on an empty-netter with 45 seconds left on the clock.

SCORING
6:48 1st, BC Goal (1-0) | McBain centered a pass across the blue line to Wahlstrom, who deked to his left into the high slot before ripping a heavy shot high glove side to beat Adam Huska

5:06 2nd, BC Goal (2-0) | Nearing the final minute of a five-minute major power play, Finkelstein fed a pass into the low slot for McBain as the rookie tipped the puck inside the short side post on his backhand

8:40 2nd, UConn Goal (2-1) | Iskhakov was denied by Woll from the low slot as the junior came out aggressively to challenge, but Iskhakov followed his own rebound and slid a backhand into an empty net

14:33 2nd, BC Goal (3-1) | Finkelstein threw a shot intentionally wide off the end boards as Zach Walker and Greco both took whacks at the right post, and the latter was able to muscle the puck past Huska's skate

17:55 2nd, BC Goal (4-1) | Finkelstein walked down the slot during a 5-on-3 power play and had his wrist shot blocked, but the junior transfer collected the rebound in the right circle and beat Huska short side

1:06 3rd, UConn Goal (4-2) | Iskhakov skated down the right wing on a 2-on-1 and wristed a shot off Woll's glove from the circle for his second of the night

6:14 3rd, UConn Goal (4-3) | Newpower stung a one-timer past Woll from the left wing circle during a two-man advantage to cut the Boston College lead to one

19:15 3rd, BC Goal (5-3) | McBain created a turnover in the neutral zone for Räsänen, who found an empty net from center ice to seal the victory

UP NEXT
Boston College takes on 19th-ranked Harvard in the opening game of the 67th Beanpot on Monday (Feb. 4) at 5 p.m. The game will air live on NESN from TD Garden.

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Team Stats

Jack McBain

Ben Finkelstein

Oliver Wahlstrom

Aapeli Räsänen

Players Mentioned

Ben Finkelstein

Ron Greco

Jack McBain

Aapeli Räsänen

Oliver Wahlstrom

Zach Walker

Joseph Woll

Players Mentioned

Ben Finkelstein

Ron Greco

Jack McBain

Aapeli Räsänen

Oliver Wahlstrom

Zach Walker

Joseph Woll