What? You were expecting a decision in regulation? When it's Boston College and Boston University in the Beanpot, it seems only fitting that the contest should continue beyond three periods.
Last night, in the semifinal nightcap, there was plenty of drama. Lead changes, power plays, strong goaltending, and heavy hitting. In the end, junior Nathan Gerbe, with his second goal of the game, lifted the Eagles to a 4-3 victory at 7:15 of OT, propelling BC into the championship game against Harvard next Monday.
BU's loss ensures there will be a new Beanpot king. The Terriers had won three titles in a row and had been victors in 13 consecutive first-round games and 23 of 24.
As happy as he was to win, BC coach Jerry York said he hadn't quite shaken off some earlier disappointment from Sunday night.
"I'm still kind of bummed out about our Pats," said York. "This takes a little sting out of it. It's been a hard day to be a Boston fan there.
"BU has been in 13 straight Beanpot finals, and to advance past them, it's a hard, hard chore."
The Terriers opened the scoring at 4:40 of the first. Senior captain Brian McGuirk fired a shot on BC goalie John Muse, who made the stop but gave up a fat rebound. Junior John McCarthy pounced on it, and with defenseman Tim Kunes trying to take him out, he swept the puck past Muse from the top of the crease to make it 1-0.
Penalty trouble for the Terriers led to BC's first tally. With the teams skating four a side, BU sophomore defenseman Brian Strait was whistled off for hitting from behind at 8:12. BC junior defenseman Anthony Aiello had the puck at the right point and skated a couple of strides to his left. He teed up a slapper from the middle, and with right wing Dan Bertram setting a screen, the puck beat sophomore goalie Brett Bennett inside the left post at 9:54.
Just 10 seconds later, the Eagles took the lead on an even-strength goal. This time it was junior center Benn Ferriero who wristed a shot from the right circle that beat Bennett between the pads at 9:54.
The game seesawed back in the Terriers' favor in the middle period. At 3:30, freshman defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk did a terrific job of fending off BC defenseman Tim Filangieri along the left-wing boards and got the puck up for fellow first-year player Nick Bonino. Bonino wristed a shot from the right circle past Muse to make it 2-2.
BU retook the lead during a power play at 8:44, the goal aided by the stick of a BC player. Gerbe drew a controversial foul when he drove the net with the puck and rammed into Bennett. He was whistled off for charging. Senior left wing Peter MacArthur threw the puck down from the right circle and it nicked off the shaft of BC captain Mike Brennan's stick and past Muse.
The Terriers tempted fate late in the frame. McGuirk got his third minor penalty of the game at 18:03. Then, with 18.8 ticks left, BU was assessed a bench minor for delay of game (knocking the net off its moorings).
That gave BC a two-man advantage for 22 seconds, which carried over to the first three seconds of the third. Although the Terriers fought off the five-on-three, the Eagles converted during the ensuing five-on-four. At 1:03 of the third, freshman left wing Joe Whitney dished a pass to Ferriero. Ferriero took a shot, which Bennett stopped, and Gerbe jammed in the rebound at the right post and it was all square at 3-3.
The Eagles thought they had a fourth tally during another power play at 5:19. Junior left wing Kyle Kucharski sent the puck to the net from the right circle and freshman center Brian Gibbons tried to redirect it past Bennett. Senior defenseman Dan McGoff crosschecked Gibbons into Bennett in the crease as Gibbons got a stick on the puck, and right wing Andrew Orpik swooped in and put it home. But the goal was disallowed because of Gibbons interfering with Bennett.
The overtime goal marked a disappointing end for BU coach Jack Parker and his team.
"I thought we were on top of our game for the first 40 minutes of the game," said Parker. "We gave up the goal to start the third on the power play. I think we got back on our heels after that.
"In general, the third period was not the way we would've liked it to have gone, and it continued that way in the overtime. It was too much time of play in our zone.
"We're disappointed not to get a W here tonight, but I'm pleased with my team's effort. Last year we beat them in the final on an overtime goal and this year they put themselves in the Beanpot final with an overtime goal. It'll certainly be a good final with BC and Harvard."
Nancy Marrapese-Burrell can be reached at Marrapese@globe.com.
