Ryan Leonard recorded his first career NCAA, three-point game in Boston College’s Beanpot consolation win over the Harvard Crimson on Monday. Leonard was the only Eagles player to hit the three-point mark with two assists to reach 20 total helpers this season and his 16th goal in his freshman campaign.
The Washington Capitals’ top prospect is riding an 11-game point streak and has a point in every contest since returning from winning a gold medal with Team USA at the World Junior Championship. Only one freshman in the country has more goals than Leonard this season, consensus 2024 number-one overall draft pick, Macklin Celebrini (23).
Before any of the scoring got underway in BC’s eventual 5-0 victory, Leonard also showed off some of the rough stuff that has led to analysts drawing comparisons between him and NHL names like Matthew Tkachuk. With a little more than six minutes remaining in the first period, Leonard knocked Harvard’s Cam Johnson into the end boards and then took him down to the ice.
Leonard received a “holding” penalty after executing the modified Russian leg sweep. The 19-year-old is no stranger to the box, leading BC in both penalties taken (16) and penalty minutes (32).
The game didn’t see its first goal until 12 minutes were already gone in the second period. Leonard fired his trademark, hard wrist shot from the top of the left faceoff circle, causing goaltender Derek Mullahy to have to fight the puck off and pop it high into the air.
Gabe Perreault was the beneficiary of the play, tapping in a loose puck on the goal line.
Leonard put away his own tally in the final minute of the second, chasing Mullahy from the game. Perreault returned the favor for his goal by battling behind the Harvard net, coming up with a loose puck, and then feeding Leonard in the left circle.
Leonard snapped the puck home in one motion. He now has four goals in his last six games.
The eighth overall draft pick in the 2023 NHL Draft perhaps saved his best for last. With under five minutes remaining in regulation, Leonard picked up the puck in BC’s defensive zone and lofted a cross-ice pass that landed directly in linemate Will Smith’s stride in the Harvard zone.
Smith deked around netminder Aku Koskenvuo and put the finishing touches on the 5-0 victory.
BC’s all-freshman line made up of Leonard, Perreault, and Smith has now combined for 122 points (45g, 77a) this season.
The Eagles improved to 21-5-1 on the season with the win and are still the number-one ranked team in the nation. They’ll be back on the ice Friday night to start a home-and-home weekend series against Massachusetts.
