No. 1 Boston College rallies from three-goal deficit to top Merrimack

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Senior forward Steven Whitney scored twice — top-ranked Boston College’s first goal and last goals — and sophomore line mate Johnny Gaudreau assisted on each to help the Eagles come back from a 3-0 second-period deficit to defeat Merrimack 4-3 in front of 6,638 fans at Kelley Rink on Friday night.

After a scoreless first period, Merrimack notched three consecutive goals in a span of 4 minutes, 38 seconds in the second period. Boston College responded with three goals of its own in a span of 5:14 — just 2:48 after Merrimack’s final tally. Whitney scored the lone goal of the third period as the gamewinner went in at 12:38.

Host BC outshot the visiting Warriors 42-26 in the game. Merrimack junior goaltender Sam Marotta recorded a season-high 38 saves in the losing effort.

Down 3-0, Whitney put the Eagles on the board at 7:39 of the middle stanza with a hard wrist shot from the slot past Marotta’s glove.

The Eagles then pulled within one score at 11:50 on Patrick Wey’s first goal of the season. Sophomore Danny Linell netted the tying goal at 12:53 to conclude a six-goal scoring burst in the period. Linell received a pass from sophomore Cam Spiro, skated right to left across the crease and flipped a backhanded shot top shelf for his first of the season.

Whitney scored the game-winning goal at 12:38 of the final frame, taking a cross-ice pass from Gaudreau and beating Marotta high glove side to seal the Eagles’ 4-3 victory.

Merrimack forward John Gustafsson scored the first of six second-period goals at 3:15. The freshman skated down the left side of the ice and beat BC goaltender Parker Milner (23 saves) glove side to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead.

Senior defenseman Kyle Bigos doubled the lead at 3:19 and Mike Collins scored the third unanswered goal at 5:51.