Box Score  | Season Stats | Post-game Press Conference | Highlights

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – After falling behind 3-1 early in the third period, No. 19 Northeastern (5-2-0, 0-1-0) cut the deficit to one midway through the final frame but could not net the equalizer as No. 8/7 Boston College (3-2-1, 1-0-0) topped the Huskies on Friday night at Conte Forum, 4-2.

Ryan Belonger and Mike Szmatula both scored for the Huskies, while Clay Witt made 29 saves in goal. Johnny Gaudreau had a pair of goal for the Eagles, who outshot NU 33-22 for the game. Thatcher Demko made 20 saves for BC as both squads went 1-of-5 on the power play.

The Eagles opened the first period with heavy pressure on Witt and the Northeastern defense, outshooting the Huskies 17-7 and earning three power plays during the first period. NU, however, took a 1-0 lead midway through the frame before Boston College knotted the score with 31 seconds left.

Johnny Gaudreau made a bid to put the Eagles up less than two minutes into the contest when he snuck behind an NU defender for a chance on goal, drawing a slashing minor on Colton Saucerman. During the man advantage, Witt stifled the BC power play unit, including a big save on Patrick Brown on a shot from the right side.

With less than 11 minutes to play in the frame, Demko thwarted a Northeastern scoring opportunity when he turned aside an initial shot from Dalen Hedges on the left side before diving across the crease to rob Torin Snydeman on the rebound.

The Huskies would cash in minutes later when Belonger netted his third goal of the season, matching a career-high. After Nathan Ferriero battled with an Eagle in the corner, Hedges dug the puck out before tossing it in front of the crease to Belonger, who tucked it inside the left post for a 1-0 Northeastern lead.

Boston College would bring the score back to even with 31.2 seconds left in the stanza when Kevin Hayes caught an NU defender flatfooted, skated around him and snuck a backhand under the pad of Roy for the power play conversion and Hayes' third goal of the season.

NU generated several scoring chances in the early minutes of the second period, testing Demko with shots from all angles, including one off the stick of Kevin Roy from in tight two minutes into the frame. Tanner Pond and Ferriero had a bid of their own two minutes later when Pond's shot from the left side was steered aside by Demko, but Ferriero crashed the net for a rebound shot that Demko also handled.

John Stevens and Zach Aston-Reese nearly connected with 15:00 left in the stanza when Stevens tried to feed Aston-Reese, who was alone in the slot, but the puck jumped over his stick and the Eagles transitioned the other way.

With Northeastern on the power play for the second time in the game, the Eagles capitalized on a two-on-one between Gaudreau and Bill Arnold to take a 2-1 lead with 7:41 left in the frame. With Arnold skating along with Gaudreau into the NU zone, Gaudreau elected to keep the puck and beat Witt short side for his fourth goal of the season.

Looking to cut into the deficit, the Huskies went on the power play with 16:20 left in regulation, and converted just 19 seconds into the man advantage on a goal from Szmatula. After Roy and Braden Pimm worked the puck out of the corner, Pimm dished to Saucerman at the point. Saucerman then threaded a low shot through traffic that Szmatula got a stick on for his second goal of the season.

Dax Lauwers helped keep the Eagle lead at 3-2 moments after the Szmatula goal when Boston College transitioned on a three-on-one. Lauwers, however, was able to block a passing lane and force the puck into the corner, limiting the BC offensive opportunity.

Northeastern would use its timeout with 1:11 left in the third, and pull Witt in favor of the extra skater, but Gaudreau would add an empty net goal with 13 seconds to play to seal the victory for the Eagles.

The teams will meet again tomorrow night in the series finale at Matthews Arena (7 p.m.). Fans attending Saturday's game are encouraged to wear black as Northeastern tries to #BlackoutBC, and NU will be giving out free t-shirts to students in the DogHouse prior to the game.

Game Notes:

• Northeastern is now 47-159-14 all-time against Boston College, and 13-11-6 all-time in Hockey East openers.

• Belonger's first period goal gave him three tallies on the season, matching a career-high. It took him 29 games to pot three goals last season.

• Gaudreau's second period goal was the first shorthanded goal that Northeastern has allowed this season.

• Pimm's third period assist extended his point streak to seven games (six goals, four assists), the longest of his career. He now has six power play points (four goals, two assists), which is tied for the most in the country.

• Szmatula also extended his point streak to seven games (two goals, 10 assists) on Friday.