Boston College Wins Its 17th Beanpot Title

A Boston boy made it BC’s night. Well, a kid from Needham, Mass. anyway.

Bill Arnold’s goal with 6.4 seconds remaining in overtime lifted No. 3 Boston College to a 3-2 win over No. 2 Boston University and its third consecutive Beanpot crown on Monday night. Arnold, a sophomore forward and a Calgary Flames draft choice, took a cross-ice pass from Stephen Whitney and let go with a wrist shot from the right circle that eluded the glove of BU netminder Kieran Millan (44 saves) to give the Eagles the 60th Beanpot title, and their fourth Beanpot championship in five years.

Pat Mullane and Chris Kreider scored in regulation for BC, which held 1-0 and 2-1 leads in the contest at a sold-out TD Garden. Mullane’s goal was shorthanded, while Kreider’s power-play tally helped him hit the 20-goal mark for the first time in his college career.

Garrett Noonan had both goals for the Terriers, including the game-tying tally in the third period on a two-man power-play advantage. Parker Milner finished with 32 saves for the Eagles, while freshman forward Johnny Gaudreau was named Beanpot MVP for his two-goal, two-assist output in BC’s two games, including a 7-1 win over Northeastern last week. BU had topped Harvard, 3-1 in the first round, while Harvard edged Northeastern, 3-2, in the consolation game yesterday.

Millan, who had backstopped BU to a Beanpot title three years ago as a freshman, earned Eberly Trophy honors as this year’s top tournament goaltender. He stopped 29 shots in the win over Harvard, and finished with 73 saves on 77 shots against in all.

The win also evened the season series between the two MBTA Green Line rivals at two wins apiece. BU won both games at BC’s Kelley Rink in the fall, while BC later returned the favor in the lone game contested at Agannis Arena.