Ryan Leonard has goals in four straight games after he potted an empty netter to seal no. 1 Boston College’s 2-0 home win against no. 8 Boston University on Saturday night. The marker was Leonard’s fourth against the Terriers in the home-and-home set that the Eagles swept by a combined 8-2 score.
Leonard potted the game-sealing tally with 1:03 left in regulation. After ripping off likely future Washington Capitals teammate Cole Hutson at BC’s blueline, he skated around Brendan Engum and fired the puck into BU’s empty net. The goal nearly blew the roof off the jam-packed Conte Forum.
The 20-year-old winger also helped set up BC’s other goal in the game just 24 seconds into the first period. Leonard made a slick zone entry and fired a hard shot that goaltender Mikhail Yegorov saved, but the rebound fell right to Teddy Stiga for an easy tap-in.
BC’s win was their sixth in a row, and Leonard has eight points (7g, 1a) in those six wins. The 2023 first-round draft selection is up to 27 points (19g, 8a) in 23 games this season.
Leonard’s goal was his 19th of the season, moving him one goal away from tying Michigan State’s Isaac Howard for the NCAA lead. Howard, a junior, has played three more games than Leonard.
The Eagles will move on to play the no. 12 UMass Lowell River Hawks on Friday. The game is the team’s last before they travel to the Boston Bruins’ TD Garden to kick off this year’s Beanpot tournament against the Northeastern Huskies.
