Post-Game Pressers: Boston College at Northeastern

Joshua Kummins covers Hockey East for SB Nation. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKummins.

Boston College vs. Northeastern final score: Eagles triumphant at Matthews Arena, 9-3

BOSTON -- After a high-flying first period at Matthews Arena, the No. 2 Boston College Eagles took out the host Northeastern Huskies with authority, to the tune of a 9-3 victory (31-24 in shots on goal) on Saturday night, to snap a brief two-game losing streak. With their tenth win of the season in Hockey East, the Eagles also improve to 15-5-2 overall, avenging a 5-2 loss to UMass on Friday.

Senior Steven Whitney put a seven on the board for the Eagles just 58 seconds into the stanza as he beat NU senior Bryan Mountain low off the face-off for his second of the game.

At 10:42, the Eagles put up their eighth goal on the first of the year by Quinn Smith. The Fairfield, Conn. native took yet another cross-ice pass on the odd-man rush - this time from fellow sophomore Danny Linell - and found the back of the net. Whitney capped off his first-career hat trick at 11:41 as he skated down the wing and wristed one by Mountain off the feed from sophomore Johnny Gaudreau for his career-high fourth assist of the contest.

Believe it or not, the Eagles lit the lamp nine times just twice in the last three seasons, but for the first time since a 9-5 win at Boston University on Dec. 4, 2010.

Joshua Kummins covers Hockey East for SB Nation. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKummins.

Boston College vs. Northeastern score update: Eagles explode for three in 2nd, 6-3 lead

BOSTON -- In the second period at Matthews Arena, it was all Boston College as the No. 2-ranked Eagles exploded for three goals in the first nine minutes for a 6-3 lead. The Eagles held a very strong 15-5 shots advantage in the stanza.

Just 1:16 in, senior Steven Whitney got in on the goal scoring act as he scooted around to the weak side of NU senior Chris Rawlings and tucked a loose puck into the open cage for his 12th of the season. After sophomore Johnny Gaudreau and senior Pat Mullane exchanged passes, Whitney went to work and found the back of the net.

Rawlings was unable to cover a loose puck on his crease at the 2:31 mark as the Eagles took another two-goal lead, thanks to junior defender Isaac MacLeod. After the puck danced around a full net-mouth scramble, sophomore Danny Linell chipped the puck out between the circles for the wide-open wrist shot through traffic.

The top Eagle line connected again at 8:52 as Mullane ended Rawlings' night, dribbling the puck over the goal line for his 11th score of the campaign and first since scoring two against New Hampshire last Friday.

After Rawlings was removed, NU senior Bryan Mountain was able to hold his own and stop all eight shots he saw in 11:08.

Joshua Kummins covers Hockey East for SB Nation. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKummins.

Boston College vs. Northeastern score update: Huskies, Eagles race to 3-3 first period

BOSTON -- The No. 2-ranked Boston College Eagles and Northeastern Huskies put on one heck of an offensive display in the first period as they combined for six goals in the first 10:28, entering the first intermission in a 3-3 tie at Matthews Arena. BC scored its three goals on just nine on-target chances as it was outshot by Northeastern, 13-9.

By capitalizing on an early turnover in the offensive zone, the Eagles took a 1-0 lead just 1:34 into the first period as junior Bill Arnold beat NU senior Chris Rawlings as he co-led an odd-man rush up ice with classmate Kevin Hayes. At 4:47, they did the same as sophomore Johnny Gaudreau found Danny Linell on a very similar play through the neutral zone for his third of the season.

The Huskies had quick answers to tie the game at 5:09 and 6:11 as juniors Braden Pimm and Robbie Vrolyk beat Milner on low shots in front. However, that did not last long as BC scored on the ensuing possession, just under 30 seconds later, when sophomore Destry Straight capitalized and chipped one by Rawlings.

For his second goal in as many games, sophomore Adam Reid collected a loose puck at 10:28 and dribbled one under the wickets of Milner, ending the scoring in a frantic period that saw an insane offensive total.

Joshua Kummins covers Hockey East for SB Nation. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKummins.

The Lineup: Boston College at Northeastern

BOSTON -- I'm across town tonight, coming to you live from Matthews Arena - the oldest multipurpose sports facility in the United States, 102 years young - on the campus of Northeastern University where the host Huskies (7-10-2, 4-8-2 HEA) host their bitter rival and No. 2-ranked Boston College (13-5-2, 10-4-1 HEA) in the third and final meeting of the regular-season.

Fans can watch the game on the Live Well TV Network and worldwide on GoNUxstream.

Here are tonight's line-ups:

BOSTON COLLEGE

Johnny Gaudreau - Pat Mullane - Steven Whitney
Kevin Hayes - Bill Arnold - Destry Straight
Brooks Dyroff - Patrick Brown - Brendan Silk
Quinn Smith - Michael Sit - Danny Linell

Teddy Doherty - Patrick Wey
Michael Matheson - Isaac MacLeod
Travis Jeke - Colin Sullivan

Parker Milner (13-5-2, 2.56, .916)
Brian Billett
Brad Barone

NORTHEASTERN

Kevin Roy - Mike McMurtry - Vinny Saponari
Steve Morra - Braden Pimm - Cody Ferriero
Robbie Vrolyk - Garrett Vermeersch - Adam Reid
Jarrett Fennell - Zak Stone - Ryan Belonger

Drew Ellement - Dan Cornell
Mike Gunn - Josh Manson
Dax Lauwers - Colton Saucerman

Chris Rawlings (7-6-1, 2.53, .921)
Bryan Mountain
Derick Roy

Joshua Kummins covers Hockey East for SB Nation. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKummins.

Tides turned in Hockey East: Huskies host No. 2 BC with momentum on their side

BOSTON -- After a resilient road win at Boston University, the Northeastern Huskies are riding high heading into Saturday's night's test against No. 2 Boston College at Matthews Arena.