Boston University became the country’s No. 1 ranking when they took a goal in the final two minutes and a Harvard goal which came a second late for the Terriers to separate themselves from an energetic Harvard squad, 4-3.
If the coaches and analysts need more evidence then the Beanpot Tournament exists outside the territory of the rest of the college hockey season, the first game of the 2009 tournament provided the same.
Harvard were in the lead when Michael Biega slipped a mild shot under goalie Kieran Millan, silencing the B.U. fans. It became more quite after Alex Killorn took a two-man advantage to open the second and gave Harvard a 2-0 lead.
The most exciting third period was a outbreak of action when the B.U. juniors began their play. Zach Cohen squeaked a low-angle shot past Harvard goalie Matt Hoyle to give the Terriers their first lead. Crimson center Pier-Olivier Michaud showed his power-play goal three minutes later, but Terriers winger Jason Lawrence scored on a hard shot from the left face-off circle that proved to be the game-winner and that was a call for the celebration
Alex Biega’s shot beat Millan blocker-side, but the puck crossed the line more than a second after the clock ran out. The Northeastern fans turned their attention towards the overwhelmed Boston College, the defending Beanpot champions.
