Third Period Lifts No. 10 UConn Past Boston College

HARTFORD, Conn. – No. 10 UConn used a four-goal third period to break a 1-1 deadlock at the second intermission and earn a 5-1 Hockey East victory over Boston College on Thursday night at the XL Center.

The Eagles dropped to 2-2-1 and suffered their first league defeat, falling to 2-1-0 in Hockey East. The Huskies improved to 7-1-1 (4-1-0 HEA) and snapped a four-game losing streak to BC in Hartford.

Junior Colby Ambrosio scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead in the second period, but UConn netted the game's next five goals.

Boston College went 3-for-3 on the penalty kill during a scoreless first period, including a brief 5-on-3 for the Huskies. Mitch Benson (25 saves) stopped all 10 UConn shots he faced in the opening frame.

Nikita Nesterenko was denied on a breakaway in the final minute of the first as the junior tried to sneak a backhand five-hole on Logan Terness (33 saves).

The Eagles earned their first power play early in the second period and Ambrosio took advantage to open the scoring. From the left wing, Lukas Gustafsson whipped a pass into the slot for the junior, who roofed a shot with a quick flick of the wrists for his fourth of the year.

BC had a 5-on-3 opportunity for 53 seconds later in the period, but UConn killed it off and tied the game when Harrison Rees came out of the box for a breakaway and snuck a shot under Benson's pads.

The Huskies took their first lead just 1:14 into the third period when Hudson Schandor went glove side from the left wing circle following a failed clear.

BC heavily out-shot UConn for most of the third period but couldn't find an equalizer. Ambrosio had a pair of chances near the right post on a late power play.

The Huskies stretched the lead to 3-1 with 3:26 remaining when Ryan Tverberg fanned on a shot but it trickled over the goal line past Benson's glove. Connecticut added an empty-netter from Tverberg and an even strength goal from Adam Dawe in the closing minutes to seal the win.

Boston College faces Merrimack in a home-and-home series next week, beginning on Thursday night at Lawler Rink on ESPN+ at 7 p.m.

Third Period Lifts No. 10 UConn Past Boston College

Players Mentioned

Colby Ambrosio

Mitch Benson

Lukas Gustafsson

Nikita Nesterenko

Players Mentioned

Colby Ambrosio

Mitch Benson

Lukas Gustafsson

Nikita Nesterenko