BC Wins 2016 Beanpot Over BU, 1-0

Alex Tuch’s long shot eluded goaltender Sean Maguire just under two minutes into overtime to lift Boston College to a 1-0 victory over Boston University in the 2016 Beanpot Tournament title game Monday night at TD Garden. It was the first 1-0 contest in the Beanpot’s 64 years of competition, and also gave third-ranked BC its 20th Beanpot title overall before 15,000-plus onlookers.

After taking a short pass from Zach Sanford high in the offensive zone, Tuch delayed before uncorking a wrist shot through a screen that beat Maguire on the stick side and clanged in off the post. It was the 11th goal of the season for the Baldwinsville, N.Y. native, who was also assisted on the play by defenseman Steve Santini.

Maguire earned Beanpot Most Outstanding Player honors after making 41 saves for the seventh-ranked Terriers (16-8-4 overall), while Thatcher Demko had 30 stops for the Eagles (20-4-4), who have won six of the last seven Beanpot championships. Demko’s shutout was also his ninth of the season, setting a new school record.

The game was delayed for about half an hour following a power failure that may have been related to snowfall in Boston last night. BC outshot BU, 42-30, including 23-12 in the first period, while the two Green Line rivals combined to go 0-for-5 on the power play.

In the consolation game played earlier on Monday, Northeastern defeated ninth-ranked Harvard, 5-1. BU had edged Northeastern, 3-1, in the Beanpot’s opening round after BC outlasted Harvard, 3-2, both on Feb. 1. Either BC or BU has won the Beanpot every year since Harvard (13-7-3) last claimed it in 1993, while Northeastern (10-13-5) last took a victory lap in 1988 in the since-demolished Boston Garden.

Next year’s Beanpot slate will have BC facing BU, and Northeastern taking on Harvard in the first round the first Monday of February.