Kreider, Milner Pave Way For BC's Overtime Win

Boston College head coach Jerry York said it was a game both teams should have won. It was a physical, back-and-forth battle between Massachusetts (16-16-0, 11-14-0 Hockey East) and No. 7 BC (20-10-2, 15-8-2 Hockey East) Friday night in Conte Forum, but the Eagles came out on top, 2-1 in overtime. Both teams produced a slew of promising chances, and the Minutemen outshot BC by two, 35-33.

But who UMass doesn't have is Chris Kreider and Parker Milner.  

Just over two minutes into the overtime period, Kreider opted to stay on the ice during a line change when he saw a rush on the opposite side. Pat Mullane raced down the right wall and skated in toward UMass goaltender Paul Dainton with a defender on his hip. Instead of throwing the puck on net, Mullane scooted the puck a few feet in front of the crease to the streaking Kreider, who tipped it in for the game-winner.

"You can't let that guy get inside of you," said UMass head coach Don Cahoon. "As much speed as Kreider has, you need to take his space away and try to skate him right by the net. He got to the inside and got a stick on the puck for the tip-in. He's a big time player who made a big time play."

"I had to go to the post hard," Kreider said. "Pat pushed me up the ice, and just to keep up with him I had to move my feet and really get up the ice. He really made that play happen."

After 60 minutes of play, no one was quite sure what would happen. UMass, which BC handily defeated, 7-1, six games prior on Feb. 5, matched the Eagles' speed and intensity from the opening whistle. Luck also was not initially on BC's side, as the Eagles hit the post twice in the first period, keeping a potential dominant lead a scoreless tie.

Despite losing five straight and seven of its last eight, the Minutemen rebounded from a sluggish, scoreless first period with a flurry of offensive firepower in the final two frames.

Trying to capitalize on a few careless BC turnovers, UMass created good looks for itself throughout the game. Yet the Minutemen were unable to get much by Milner outside of Brett Watson's goal at 17:41 of the second period. Maneuvering through traffic, Watson handled a feed from Danny Hobbs a few feet from the net and hit the open right side to tie the game 1-1.

Otherwise, BC's freshman netminder kept the game in check with 34 saves.

"There were a lot of positives in this game, but it's not about positives going into the final weekend of the season hanging on by a thread," Cahoon said. "It's about getting ‘W's.' We thought we did what was necessary to get out here with something, and we couldn't do it."

The Eagles truly have Milner to thank for the solemn atmosphere in the Minutemen locker room. Although it took much of the first period for UMass to find its shooting stroke, once it did, Milner had his pads full. On multiple occasions, he stuffed a wrap-around attempt from behind the net with his pad or absorbed a quick wrister off a spin move.

Two UMass power plays were also killed because of solid defense and key saves from Milner. Twice he made two point-blank saves on Minutemen slap shots, showcasing his raw athleticism to sprawl for the puck and preserve the tie.

"Parker was exceptional in goal with us, and he made some really solid, solid saves through the course of the game," York said. "Parker has put a pretty good statement out that he can play at this level and play very well. It's the first time in a while we're blessed with two really good goaltenders."

Due to Milner's ability to allow only one goal, Joe Whitney's goal 18 seconds into the second period on a pretty pass from Patrick Wey was all the Eagles needed to force overtime. Then Kreider sprung into action again, stealing a much-needed two points for BC, which is still chasing New Hampshire for the title of regular-season conference champion.

After Kreider, who has scored nine goals in the last 11 games, saw the puck get past Dainton, he pumped his fist and let out an emphatic, celebratory yell before his teammates mobbed him. To the Eagles, though, this win was bigger than just their 20th of the year.

"A tie would have been fine, but a win puts that much more pressure on UNH," Kreider said. "We really want the ball to be in our court and dictate our own fate. I was extremely happy to know we could go into the weekend against UNH with the fate in our hands."

The Eagles have Kreider and Milner to thank for that.