St. Cloud, MN—Friday night’s matchup between St. Cloud State and Boston College had all the makings of a classic, but for the Huskies, it turned into the one that slipped away. Gavyn Thoreson’s apparent equalizer late in the second period was controversially overturned after an extended review, shifting the game’s momentum in favor of the Eagles. The overturned goal turned out to be a pivotal moment, and the Huskies couldn’t regain their footing, falling 4-1 to a sharp and opportunistic Boston College squad.
With this victory, the Eagles snapped SCSU’s four-game winning streak over them and exorcised some demons from their 2021 NCAA tournament loss to the Huskies. For historical context, BC hadn’t topped St. Cloud State since a thrilling double-overtime win back in 2004.
This matchup wasn’t lacking in talent, boasting 18 NHL draft picks combined and showcasing end-to-end action on the Olympic-sized ice sheet.
BC’s Quick Strike and SCSU’s Resilience
Boston College broke the ice late in the first period, capitalizing on their faceoff struggles by flipping the script at a crucial moment. Will Vote sniped one past Isak Posch’s stick side with just under three minutes left in the period, putting the Eagles up 1-0. The opening frame was a disciplined one, with BC holding an 8-6 shot advantage.
Early in the second, BC added to their lead. A boarding penalty on Nick Portz set up the Eagles’ power play, and Gabe Perrault made no mistake, roofing one over Posch for his third goal of the season. But SCSU wasn’t about to fold. Just over a minute later, Daimon Gardner put the Huskies on the board with a slick finish off a brilliant no-look backhand feed from Thoreson, cutting the lead to 2-1.
Turning Point: A Controversial Call
The game’s defining moment came with 5:26 left in the second period. The Huskies, brimming with energy, thought they’d tied it up when Thoreson buried a rebound from a Josh Luedtke shot. The on-ice officials called it a goal, but BC’s bench protested, prompting a long review. The replay showed Thoreson made contact with Fowler’s left shoulder just before the shot, leading to a goaltender interference call that left the Huskies deflated and the goal waived off.
Adding salt to the wound, BC struck again during an SCSU power play with just over a minute left in the period. Will Skahan’s shot dropped in front of Posch, and Teddy Stiga pounced on the loose puck, extending the lead to 3-1.
Final Period and Statistics
The third period featured limited chances as both teams combined for only eight shots. SCSU’s last-ditch effort to pull Posch for an extra attacker backfired, with Perrault potting an empty-netter for his second of the night and sealing the Eagles’ 4-1 win.
Boston College edged SCSU 21-20 in shots, while their power play clicked at 33.3%. Jacob Fowler stood tall with 19 saves on 20 shots (.950 SV%), outdueling Posch, who stopped 17 of 20 (.850 SV%).
Stats Rundown:
- Shots on Goal: BC 21, SCSU 20
- Goaltender Saves: Fowler (BC) 19/20; Posch (SCSU) 17/20
- Power Play Efficiency: BC 1/3 (33.3%), SCSU 0/3 (0.0%)
- Faceoffs Won: SCSU 51.8% (29/56)
Three Stars of the Game:
- Gabe Perrault (BC)
- Will Vote (BC)
- Daimon Gardner (SCSU)
The teams will clash again Saturday at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center, with puck drop at 6:00 PM CT. Expect SCSU to come out hungry for revenge and BC aiming to sweep the series.
