STATE COLLEGE, Pa.<\/b> — Once again, a powerhouse program made its first trip to a sold-out Pegula Ice Arena and beat Penn State. <\/p>\n
This time, it was No. 2 Boston College topping the Nittany Lions by a 3-2 mark.<\/p>\n
With the win, the Eagles (18-4-3) now have an 11-game unbeaten streak.<\/p>\n
Boston College survived getting outshot by the Nittany Lions in two of the three periods.<\/p>\n
Freshman Thatcher Demko made the difference as the former USA Hockey National Development Team goaltender stopped 33 shots from the blue and white.<\/p>\n
Penn State still outshot Boston College by 35-30 margin.<\/p>\n
“Penn State has made marked improvements since we saw them in December,” BC coach Jerry York said, referring to his team’s 8-2 win in last month’s Three Rivers Classic championship game. “They are so close. They are big and physical and play tough hockey.” <\/p>\n
It initially looked like the Lions could handle the Eagles. It took more than seven minutes for the Eagles to register on a shot on goal in the first period. <\/p>\n
Just a handful of seconds later, the second shot found the net. Kevin Hayes notched his 18th tally of the year at 7:40 of the first period after an initial shot from Bill Arnold, who was credited with an assist. Johnny Gaudreau also extended his point-scoring streak to 20 games with an assist on the goal. <\/p>\n
However, as the period wore on, the Boston College goal appeared to only be a blip on the radar. The Lions outshot the Eagles 11-7 in the opening period. <\/p>\n
Penn State evened the score when Eric Scheid refused to give up on a loose puck. Demko stopped Mike Williamson’s initial shot, but Scheid was there to take a shot of his own on the rebound at 6:45 of the second period. The goal was Scheid’s 10th of the season. <\/p>\n
Once again, momentum was back on the Nittany Lions’ side, but another Boston College goal quelled it. <\/p>\n
While skating four-on-four, Gaudreau created a turnover and after give-and-go with Arnold, the nation’s leading scorer, added his 22nd goal at 16:04 of the second period. <\/p>\n
Just like in the first period, the Lions outshot the Eagles 13-10. <\/p>\n
At 4:28 of the final stanza, Penn State put itself in a vice when Jonathan Milley slammed Steve Santini into the boards. Milley was given a five-minute major for boarding, but was not given a game misconduct.<\/p>\n
It didn’t take long for Boston College to take advantage of the extended power play. At 4:59, Hayes added his second goal of the game.<\/p>\n
Minutes later, Tommy Olczyk found himself on a breakaway, but the Nittany Lions’ captain was pulled down from behind and awarded a penalty shot. The crowd rose to their feet as Olczyk tried put his team right back within a goal, but Demko closed his pads on the five-hole attempt. <\/p>\n
The energy inside the building didn’t go anywhere. With the crowd of 6,214 still in it, Taylor Holstrom scored a shorthanded goal on a two-on-one break at 6:58. Holstrom’s shot just sailed high of Demko’s reaching glove, but low enough to light the lamp.<\/p>\n
Once again, the combination of Gaudreau and Hayes proved to be a nuisance for opponents. Nittany Lions’ goaltender Eamon McAdam got the better end of the deal as he denied Gaudreau from point-blank-range later in the period. <\/p>\n
With the extra attacker on, Penn State couldn’t punch the puck through Demko, who was shaken up after a scrum in front his net. Demko stayed in the game and held off the final wave of artillery. <\/p>\n
The third period was the only period in which the Eagles were able to outshoot the Lions, 13-11.<\/p>\n
“We are proud of certain aspects of the game tonight, but I am disappointed that we took a five-minute major in a one-goal game,” PSU coach Guy Gadowsky said. “We need to learn the lessons if we want to get over the hump.”<\/p>\n
Even though Boston College survived the scare, York echoed other coaches who have brought their teams to the Pegula Ice Arena. <\/p>\n
“They’ve got something special going,” York said. “It’s a great environment.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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