BOSTON -- In its second consecutive overtime Beanpot game, No. 9 Boston College topped No. 16 Harvard, 3-2 at TD Garden in the tournament's consolation round. The contest marked the first time since 1998, and third in program history, that both Harvard Beanpot matches went to overtime.
Alexander Kerfoot recorded a goal and assist in the contest, giving him seven points against Boston College on the season. Sean Malone netted a power-play goal in the second period, marking the third-straight game the Crimson has converted a power play opportunity.
Goaltender Steve Michalek came within four saves of breaking the all-time Beanpot record, finishing with 24 on the night, giving him 87 in the Crimson's two games.
Despite outshooting the Eagles in the opening frame, Boston College got on the board first at the 15:06 mark with a power play goal. On the ensuing faceoff following the Harvard penalty, Zach Sanford gained control of the puck and slid it across the crease to Alex Tuch who slotted it into the lower-left corner.
The Harvard defense was on point to begin the second period, quashing a pair of Eagles' power plays that included a 5-on-3 opportunity. Michalek turned away a pair of shots to hold Boston College scoreless to start the frame.
At 9:23 in the second period, the Crimson got its equalizer when Kerfoot beat Demko from straight on. Kyle Criscuolo sent the puck to Desmond Bergin at the right wing, who then centered it to Kerfoot who deked past a defender before ripping a shot into the back of the net to tie the game. The strike was his seventh of the season, while Criscuolo and Bergin picked up their 20th and sixth assists of the year, respectively.
Less than two minutes later, Malone netted a power play goal to give Harvard the 2-1 lead with 11:05 elapsed in the period. Kerfoot, who earned his second point of the game, found Jimmy Vesey at the right corner of the crease for a shot that deflected to Malone in front of goal for the tap in, and his fifth score of the season. The assist was Vesey's 21st of the year, and Kerfoot's 15th.
The Crimson had a 5-on-3 opportunity of its own at the start of the third period, and came within an inch of extending the lead when Tyler Moy's shot ricocheted off the pipes and out of play. Kerfoot had an additional opportunity to beat the goaltender, but his shot sailed over the top of the net.
At 8:40 in the third period, Boston College leveled the score at 2-2 when Matthew Gaudreau lit the lantern from the left edge of the crease, assisted by Teddy Doherty and Steve Santini.
Michalek made a trio of important saves late in the period, stopping a pair of shots before sprawling to his right to kick the puck out of harm's way. Though Criscuolo had a chance to end the game with less than ten seconds to go, his shot was saved and the game went to overtime.
Just over a minute into the extra period, the Eagles' Ryan Fitzgerald scored from the right side with a left-handed wrister that made its way into the far corner. Destry Straight was credited with the assist.
Harvard finishes the regular season with ECAC tilts against Quinnipiac on Friday and Princeton on Saturday at the Bright-Landry Hockey Center.
