Ryan Leonard has goals in back-to-back games for the first time in his sophomore season.
The 19-year-old winger recorded the game-winning tally against number-five-ranked Maine in Sunday’s second period as Boston College completed a two-game mauling of the Black Bears with a 3-0 shutout.
Leonard potted his fifth goal of the year with 9:21 left in the second frame. Gabe Perreault found the Capitals’ top prospect in the neutral zone with a pinpoint pass, and Leonard did the rest, ripping a laser wrist shot by goaltender Albin Boija from the high slot.
Through eight games this season, Leonard has recorded eight points (5g, 3a). He lined up on the right ring of the Eagles’ top line again, playing with Perreault and the consensus 2025 number-one overall draft selection, James Hagens.
The goals in consecutive games may indicate that Leonard is starting to heat up after a cold shooting start. During his freshman campaign, which he ended with a school record 31 goals, Leonard shot 18.5 percent. He is shooting just 10.9 percent this season despite already recording 46 shots in eight games, which is over a quarter (27.4 percent) of the 168 shots he fired in 41 games last year.
Leonard’s three game-winning goals this season are already half the total game-winners he scored last season.
BC’s two wins against Maine extend their winning streak to six games. They have played the best team defense in the country to this point of the campaign, allowing an average of just 1.25 goals per game through eight games.
The 7-1, number-two-ranked Eagles will next play against the 5-5-1 UConn Huskies on Friday. BC went 3-0 against UConn last season, and Leonard recorded three points (1g, 2a) in those games.
