ST. PAUL, Minn. — Top-seeded Boston College is one stop closer to its first national title since 2012.

The high-octane Eagles offense showed exactly why it has been the favorite for much of the season, defeating Michigan 4-0 in their Frozen Four semifinal game on Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center.

And it was the Eagles’ big-time players who stepped up in key situations. Freshman phenom Will Smith scored a pair of goals, sophomore Cutter Gauthier scored his nation-leading 38th of the season and freshman Gabe Perreault added a fourth to propel the Eagles (34-5-1) to Saturday’s national title game against Denver.

Boston College led 1-0 after the first period, thanks to some big saves from goaltender Jacob Fowler and an early goal from Smith and their vaunted freshman line.

BC got an early highlight-reel goal from Smith after Perreault picked up a loose puck deep in his own zone and hit Ryan Leonard with a cross-ice stretch pass deep behind the Michigan defense. Smith also snuck in behind the Michigan defenders and easily beat Michigan goaltender Jake Barczewski to finish off the bang-bang-bang play just 1 minute, 20 seconds into the game.

But in general, Michigan seemed to control the pace of the game and had a few more grade A scoring chances. The Wolverines outshot the Eagles 9-6 in the first 20 minutes, with Fowler flashing some nice leather a few times to keep it scoreless.

Boston College got a chance to extend its lead a little later in the period when Michigan’s Mark Estapa was called for a boarding penalty midway through the first. That opportunity was short-lived, however, as Leonard was called for a hook on Michigan’s Tyler Duke 35 seconds into their man advantage. Neither team was able to generate much on their brief power-play chances.

BC got another power play opportunity shortly after this, when Estapa again went to the box, this time for a trip at the 4:10 mark. However, Michigan’s penalty kill unit, which came into the game ranked 45th in the country, held the Eagles off the scoreboard.

The Eagles had a chance to go up 2-0 early in the second period. About 90 seconds into the middle frame, Leonard was able to carry the puck into the slot and escape a number of defenders but Barczewski made a sprawling save to deny Leonard.

The Wolverines, who came into the game having converted on 34.5% of their power plays, had its first real chance on the advantage in the second period. BC’s Gauthier was called for interference but BC’s penalty kill, which also happens to be the best in the country, was up to the task and didn’t let the Wolverines have any good chances.

Michigan’s failure to convert on that power play chance would haunt it later in the period. Although it appeared the Wolverines would get their second power play chance a few minutes later when BC’s Drew Fortescue was called for a trip, that chance was short-lived. About 30 seconds after Fortescue went into the box, Michigan’s Duke was also whistled for a trip, negating the power play and opening up a lot of 4-on-4 ice for the dangerous Eagles offense.

BC made Michigan pay. First, Smith scored a goal that is the definition of “lucky bounce” when he skated around behind the Michigan goal and sent the puck into the slot for what was an attempt at a centering pass. However, the puck missed its intended target (Gauthier) and instead hit a Michigan defender before trickling in between Barczewski’s legs.

Less than a minute later, BC struck again. This time Gauthier stripped the puck from a Michigan defender at the blue line and took it coast-to-coast for a no-doubter.

If the game wasn’t over when BC took the 3-0 lead on Gauthier’s breakaway, Perreault shoved the dagger in for good early in the third. Five minutes into the final frame, Perreault scored an unassisted wraparound goal to make it 4-0 — his third point of the game, adding to the two assists he had on earlier goals.

That’s not to say Michigan didn’t have its chances to get back in the game late. The Wolverines outshot the Eagles 17-8 in the third, and had one final power play opportunity midway through the period. However, none of their scoring chances seemed to be true threats to the Eagles, who seemed to be most interested in letting the clock tick off.

Both teams were held without a power play goal; Michigan went 0-for-4 and BC was 0-for-3.

Fowler finished the game with 32 saves for the Eagles and recorded his third shutout of the season. Barczewski stopped 18 shots.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Boston College needed its difference-makers to be in the right place at the right time in the first period on Thursday night.

Although the top-seeded Eagles led 1-0 after the first period, it took some big saves from goaltender Jacob Fowler and an early goal from their vaunted freshman line to fend off a feisty Michigan squad in their Frozen Four semifinal game at Xcel Energy Center.

The Eagles got an early highlight-reel goal from freshman Will Smith after his teammate Gabe Perreault picked up a loose puck deep in his own zone and hit Ryan Lenoard with a cross-ice stretch pass deep behind the Michigan defense. Smith also snuck in behind the Michigan defenders and easily beat Michigan goaltender Jake Barczewski to finish off the bang-bang-bang play just 1 minute, 20 seconds into the game.

But in general, Michigan seemed to control the pace of the game and had a few more grade A scoring chances. The Wolverines outshot the Eagles 9-6 in the first 20 minutes, with Fowler flashing some nice leather a few times to keep it scoreless.

Boston College got a chance to extend its lead when Michigan’s Mark Estapa was called for a boarding penalty midway through the first. That opportunity was short-lived, however, as Leonard was called for a hook on Michigan’s Tyler Duke 35 seconds into their man advantage. Neither team was able to generate much on their brief power-play chances.

BC got another power play shortly after this, when Estapa again went to the box, this time for a trip. However, Michigan’s penalty kill unit, which came into the game ranked 45th in the country, held the Eagles off the scoreboard.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Denver’s Tristan Broz fired a low, hard shot between the legs of Boston University goaltender Mathieu Caron at 11:09 of overtime as the Pioneers knocked off the Terriers 2-1 on Thursday to earn a spot in Saturday’s national championship game.

The play began in the Boston University zone as Devin Kaplan couldn’t handle a pass through the slot area. That sent Denver up ice on a 3-on-2 with Broz carrying the puck across the line. Thinking shot, he fired a low rocket that hit the net bottom and bounced out so quickly many in the crowd didn’t realize it had gone in.

The goal ended a thrilling opening game where Boston University had countless opportunities early to extend an early one-goal lead. Denver persevered, tied the game in the second and found a way to win in the extra session.

It was Denver’s third straight 2-1 victory in the NCAA tournament and second that ended in overtime.

Power plays were the story of the game. The Terriers put Denver on the man advantage four times, including three times in the third.

Denver took just one penalty, a matching minor in overtime, meaning Boston University’s power play never saw the ice.

The Terriers began the game fast as Kaplan was stopped on a one-timer by Denver goaltender Matt Davis (33 saves) just 45 seconds in. Denver didn’t have a shot until 5:50 of the first, but that led to Carter King with a great look on a rebound that BU’s Caron (27 saves) stopped.

Seconds later, the Terriers took the game’s first penalty but instead of Denver’s power play capitalizing, BU scored short-handed.

Kaplan flicked a quick pass to Luke Tuch that sent him past the Pioneers defense on a breakaway. Tuch ripped a shot up high for his first career short-handed goal at 7:45.

Through the middle frame, the Terriers continued to hold a strong territorial advantage but a mental mistake by All-American defenseman Lane Hutson allowed Denver to strike back.

Behind his net, Hutson made a blind pass that was perfectly anticipated by Miko Matikka. He intercepted the puck and fed quickly to a wide-open Tristan Lemyre, who fired the puck five-hole on Caron at 15:21 to even the score. The goal came on just the eighth Pioneers shot of the game.

That goal gave Denver life, and the Pioneers hemmed the Terriers in their zone for the remainder of the second. With 23.4 seconds left, it looked as if Aidan Thompson would give the Pioneers their first lead when Davis made a perfect stretch pass to spring a 2-on-1. Appearing to be beat, Caron reached behind him for a glove save that robbed Thompson, sending the game to the third tied at 1.

Caron remained sharp in the third with his biggest save coming on Denver’s scoring leader Jack Devine as a Denver power play ended. A rebound popped right to Devine’s stick and he made a move past Caron, but the junior netminder reached his arm across to stop the puck with 9:13 left.

At the other end of the ice, it wasn’t so much the goaltender stealing the show, but the post. Lane Hutson took a feed from Macklin Celebrini with 3:33 left and ripped it off the inside of the post.

Boston University led in shots through regulation, 25-23, but Denver outshot the Terriers in the third, 12-5.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Boston University’s Luke Tuch scored short-handed in the first and Denver’s Tristan Lemyre took advantage of a Terriers mistake in the second as BU and Denver were tied after regulation play in the opening semifinal of the 2024 Men’s Frozen Four on Thursday.

Denver began the overtime period with a 47-second power play after BU’s Dylan Petersen was whistled for boarding at 18:47 of the third.

Power plays were the story of the game. The Terriers put Denver on the man advantage four times, including three times in the third.

Denver did not take a penalty through regulation.

The Terriers began the game fast as Devin Kaplan was stopped on a one-timer by Denver goaltender Matt Davis just 45 seconds in. Denver didn’t have a shot until 5:50 of the first, but that led to Carter King with a great look on a rebound that BU’s Mathieu Caron stopped.

Seconds later, the Terriers took the game’s first penalty but instead of Denver’s power play capitalizing, BU scored short-handed.

Kaplan flicked a quick pass to Tuch that sent him past the Pioneers defense on a breakaway. Kaplan ripped a shot up high for his first career short-handed goal at 7:45.

Through the middle frame, the Terriers continued to hold a strong territorial advantage but a mental mistake by All-American defenseman Lane Hutson allowed Denver to strike back.

Behind his net, Hutson made a blind pass that was perfectly anticipated by Miko Matikka. He intercepted the puck and fed quickly to a wide-open Lemyre, who fired the puck five-hole on Caron at 15:21 to even the score. The goal came on just the eighth Pioneers shot of the game.

That goal gave Denver life, and the Pioneers hemmed the Terriers in their zone for the remainder of the second. With 23.4 seconds left, it looked as if Aidan Thompson would give the Pioneers their first lead when Davis made a perfect stretch pass to spring a 2-on-1. Appearing to be beat, Caron reached behind him for a glove save that robbed Thompson, sending the game to the third tied at 1.

Caron remained sharp in the third with his biggest save coming on Denver’s scoring leader Jack Devine as a Denver power play ended. A rebound popped right to Devine’s stick and he made a move past Caron, but the junior netminder reached his arm across to stop the puck with 9:13 left.

At the other end of the ice, it wasn’t so much the goaltender stealing the show, but the post. Lane Hutson took a feed from Macklin Celebrini with 3:33 left and ripped it off the inside of the post.

Boston University led in shots through regulation 25-23 but Denver outshot the Terriers in the third 12-5.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Boston University’s Luke Tech scored short-handed in the first and Denver’s Tristan Lemyre took advantage of a Terriers mistake in the second as BU and Denver were tied through two periods of play in the opening semifinal of the 2024 Men’s Frozen Four.

The Terriers began the game fast as Devin Kaplan was stopped on a one-timer by Denver goaltender Matt Davis just 45 seconds in. Denver didn’t have a shot until 5:50 of the first, but that led to Carter King with a great look on a rebound that BU’s Mathieu Caron stopped.

Seconds later, the Terriers took the game’s first penalty but instead of Denver’s power play capitalizing, BU scored short-handed.

Kaplan flicked a quick pass to Tuch that sent him past the Pioneers defense on a breakaway. Kaplan ripped a shot up high for his first career short-handed goal at 7:45.

Through the middle frame, the Terriers continued to hold a strong territorial advantage but a mental mistake by All-American defenseman Lane Hutson allowed Denver to strike back.

Behind his net, Hutson made a blind pass that was perfectly anticipated by Miko Matikka. He intercepted the puck and fed quickly to a wide-open Lemyre, who fired the puck five-hole on Caron at 15:21 to even the score. The goal came on just the eighth Pioneers shot of the game.

That goal gave Denver life, and the Pioneers hemmed the Terriers in their zone for the remainder of the second. With 23.4 seconds left, it looked as if Aidan Thompson would give the Pioneers their first lead when Davis made a perfect stretch pass to spring a 2-on-1. Appearing to be beat, Caron reached behind him for a glove save that robbed Thompson, sending the game to the third tied at 1.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Thanks to a Luke Tuch short-handed goal, Boston University held a 1-0 lead over Denver through one period in the opening semifinal of the 2024 Men’s Frozen Four.

The Terriers began the period fast as Devin Kaplan was stopped on a one-timer by Denver goaltender Matt Davis just 45 seconds into the game. Denver had its own grade A opportunity at 5:50 when Carter King had a great look on a rebound that BU’s Mathieu Caron stopped.

Seconds later, the Terriers took the game’s first penalty but instead of Denver’s power play capitalizing, BU scored short-handed.

Kaplan flicked a quick pass to Tuch that sent him past the Pioneers defense on a breakaway. Kaplan ripped a shot up high for his first career short-handed goal at 7:45.

Boston University held a distinct territorial advantage in the opening frame, evident by a 10-3 advantage in shots.