Thrilling Beanpot Semis Sets Up Unlikely Final

The Northeasten Huskies race to celebrate with goalie Clay Witt after defeating the Boston College Eagles, 3-2. The Boston Globe

By Jake Reiser

February 4, 2015

3 minutes to read

What a thrilling semifinals of the Beanpot at TD Garden Tuesday evening.

In the first game, the Boston University Terriers fought their way to a 4-3 double overtime victory against the Harvard Crimson. It would take 101 shots total and a second overtime for someone to break the tie, but finally, Danny O’Regan took a cross crease pass on a two-on-one after a turnover caused by Rodrigues, and tipped it over Michalek’s right shoulder to propel the Terriers into the Beanpot championship game.

“We were kind of expecting a one-goal game or a game that would come down to the last minute. I certainly didn’t envision double overtime, but I’m just really proud of our guys,’’ said BU coach David Quinn. “Phenomenal opening to the Beanpot. I thought we had a lot of resiliency and resolve today.’’

“Definitely a special feeling. This was probably my biggest [Beanpot game] so I saved the best for last,’’ O’Regan said.

“It was a game of a lot of momentum changes but I thought our guys really competed,’’ Harvard Coach Ted Donato commented. “We’re frustrated, but BU deserves a lot of credit and I was proud of the way a lot of our guys played.’’

An hour and a half after the scheduled start time, Boston College and Northeastern finally dropped the puck. The Huskies scored two power play goals, the Eagles one shorthanded goal, and the game was tied at two for almost all of the third period. With overtime looming, junior defenseman Dustin Darou scored his second goal of the season, through a screen past Thatcher Demko to make the Beanpot championship game a battle of dogs.

“I was proud of the way our guys competed,’’ Huskies head coach Jim Madigan said. “They grinded it out and found a way to win the game. Anytime you can beat Boston College in this tournament, who have dominated the last ten years, it says something to the character of our kids and our program.’’

Darou, who scored the game winning goal, didn’t know how to describe the feeling of scoring that late goal. “It’s one thing to win against BC, but to score the game winning goal is just really surreal for me…it’s just an unbelievable feeling to beat them.’’

No. 2/3 Boston University and Northeastern will face off in the Beanpot final at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, the first time these two teams have faced off in the finals since 2009, where the Terriers won 5-2. The teams have played each other this season, the last time being a home and home series for the Terriers in late February 2014, BU winning both games.

Huskies coach Mike Madigan hasn’t seen a lot of BU’s play as the season has gone on, but definitely knows about their success. “They’re obviosuly very talented. They have one guy, No. 9, Eichel might be his last name. He’s pretty good,’’ Madigan said. “Beyond him, they’ve got [O’Regan], who we’ve faced, Evan Rodrigues and Cason Hohmann. They got a really good goaltender back there. They got depth up front, I think they have four good lines. The defensemen are younger, but they’re highly skilled. We’ll have our hands full next Monday. That’s what you got to do in this tournament, you have to beat a good team to go play a just as good team.’’

No. 6 Harvard squares off against No. 11 BC in the consolation game at 4:30 p.m., the Crimson defeating the Eagles handedly, 6-3, at Conte Forum earlier this season.