Final: Boston College 4, Maine 1

Top-ranked Boston College became the first Hockey East team to captured three consecutive tournament titles -- and a record 11 overall -- in Saturday night's 4-1 victory over 10th-ranked Maine in the tourney final before a TD Garden crowd of 13,709.

BC freshman Johnny Gaudreau, who captured the Beanpot MVP here in February, helped the Eagles (29-10-1) take a 2-0 lead after potting a pair of first-period goals at 5:24 and at 7:31 on the power play.

Maine (23-13-3), playing without conference Player of the Year Spencer Abbott, who was elbowed in the back of the head in the third period of Friday night's 5-3 semifinal win over Boston Unviersity, got its lone goal from senior co-captain Brian Flynn, of Lynnfield, Mass., at 7:37 of the second period.

Pat Mullane made it 3-1 with his ninth goal of the season at 18:39 of the second before Barry Almeida capped it with his 22d goal of the season at 18:59 of the third.

BC outshot Maine, 42-41.

Third period

BC 3, Maine 1, 17:17: Maine went on the power play for the fourth time in the game after Edwin Shea drew a boarding minor. BC's penalty kill, however, erased the infraction, making Maine 0-for-4 on the man advantage, this after the Black Bears scored four power-play goals in its 5-3 semifinal win over Boston University.

End of second period: BC 3, Maine 1 BC is 20-0-1 when leading after two periods. It's an ominous stat to overcome for the Black Bears, who trail by two goals after getting outshot by BC, 33-25, through the first two periods.

BC 3, Maine 1, 18:39: Pat Mullane gave the Eagles some much needed breathing room when Johnny Gaudreau retrieved a loose puck, swept around the back of the Maine net, and found Mullane in the middle of the slot for the insurance goal. It was Mullane's ninth goal of the season.

BC 2, Maine 1, 13:22 Black Bears go on power play for third time in game after Tommy Cross sent off for interference.

BC 2, Maine 1, 7:37: Maine senior co-captain Brian Flynn, of Lynnfield, Mass. got the Black Bears on the board when he shoveled in a backhander past Parker Milner, whose clearing pass was intercepted by Joey Diamond, who sent the puck to Flynn in the slot. Shots on goal: BC, 23-16.

End of first period: BC 2, Maine 0 The Eagles take a two-goal lead into the dressing room after the first period thanks to a pair of goals by Johnny Gaudreau, who looks to be a shoo-in for MVP honors. If he were so honored, Gaudreau would become the fifth overall freshman to win MVP and fourth from BC, joining Chuck Kobasew (2001), Scott LaGrand (1990), and Brian Leetch (1987). BU goaltender Keiran Millan was the last freshman to win Hockey East MVP in 2009.

BC 2, Maine 0, 15:03: BC is buzzing Maine's net. The Eagles have outshot the Black Bears, 19-9 through first 16:35.

BC 2, Maine 0, PPG, 7:31: Gaudreau was Johnny on the Spot for BC when he tallied his second goal of the game (and 19th of the season) on a power-play tally, which came nine seconds after Joey Diamond was sent off for an interference minor at 7:22. Gaudreau caromed a goal-mouth whack by BC teammate Pat Mullane and beat the outstretched blade of Maine goaltender Dan Sullivan. Chris Kreider was also credited with a helper.

BC 1, Maine 0, 5:24 Johnny Gaudreau gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead when he wheeled and dealed on a rebound of a Patch Alber blue-line shot on net from the right half wall. It was Gaudreau's 18th goal of the season.

Pregame

Welcome to TD Garden, where top-ranked Boston College (28-10-1) will face 10th-ranked Maine (23-12-3) in the Hockey East tournament championship game.

The Eagles advanced to the title game by virture of Friday night's 4-2 semifinal victory over No. 7 seed Providence College while the Black Bears earned a berth in their 14th Hockey East final -- and seventh overall appearance vs. BC (4-2) -- after a 5-3 victory over Boston University.

The triumph proved costly for Maine, which lost its best player, Spencer Abbott, the league's Player of the Year, when he took an elbow to the back of the head and sat out the remaining 15:57 of the game.

Maine coach Tim Whitehead afterward said Abbott's availibility against the Eagles ``didn't look good'' and that the Black Bears would likely have to adapt if he was indeed unable to play.

That's precisely what Whitehead did when he assembled a starting line that was sans Abbott, Maine's scoring leader (61 points), who was not listed on the roster Saturday night. Just before the game, junior left winger Matt Mangene was promoted to Abbott's right wing position on Maine's top line, centered by senior co-captain Brian Flynn.