CHESTNUT HILL – The definition of insanity overtook the UMass hockey team as much as Boston College.

The Minutemen faced the Eagles for the fourth time in Wednesday’s Hockey East tournament preliminary round. Like the previous three matchups, UMass couldn’t sustain its forecheck and allowed too much time and space to NHL-level skaters. They did the same things over and over and expected a different result.

It ended the same way as the previous four. BC won 5-2 at Conte Forum to reach Saturday’s quarterfinal round. The Minutemen finished their season 13-17-5 overall.

“The game to finish the year probably kind of summed up our whole year, just a microcosm – gave up some pretty soft goals, didn't create enough offense,” UMass coach Greg Carvel said. “It's pretty consistent with the whole year.”

The Eagles will face No. 2 Merrimack in the quarterfinals Saturday.

UMass showed why it lost all four meetings early. Eagles captain Marshall Warren picked a corner with a precision shot from the outside just 1 minute, 8 seconds into regulation, before much of the sparse crowd settled into their seats. Cutter Gauthier and Andre Gasseau assisted the tally.

Eamonn Powell doubled BC’s lead with just 2:53 remaining in the period. He snuck through traffic and tapped home a Cam Burke rebound under UMass goalie Cole Brady.

The Minutemen responded quickly. Lucas Mercuri worked the puck down low to Mikey Adamson, who fired it across the crease to a waiting Taylor Makar. He slammed home his third goal in the past three games with 1:19 let in the period.

That proximity didn’t last. Gasseau slapped in a one-timer with 15 seconds left in the period to restore BC’s two-goal lead. Gauthier and Nikita Nesterenko assisted the play.

“The way they scored it was killer,” Carvel said. “Their second and third goals shouldn’t happen.”

The Eagles outshot UMass 20-4 after 20 minutes. That advantage ballooned to 42-18 by the end of the game.

“Defense is a team thing. We back checked and had guys’ numbers coming back a lot. UMass is dangerous on the rush, and their defensemen create a lot joining the rush,” BC coach Greg Brown said. “It’s so imperative against a team like UMass that you have to have numbers coming back.”

The onslaught continued in the third. Nesterenko launched a laser from beyond the left circle that made it 4-1 9:11 into the second period. Gauthier picked up his third assist of the game.

The Minutemen opened the third period perfectly. Defenseman Ryan Ufko unleashed a shot from the blue line that beat BC goalie Mitch Benson high. Mercuri didn’t receive an assist but screened Benson so he couldn’t see the shot, which cut UMass’ deficit to 4-2 just 22 seconds into the final period.

The Eagles responded again. Nesterenko tucked away his second goal from an  odd man rush with 16:48 left to make it 5 -2, and that tally held the rest of the way.

“He scored some beauties,” Brown said. “We’re always telling him he can shoot more. Against UMass he does.”

BRIGHT FUTURE – UMass freshman Kenny Connors was named to the Hockey East all-rookie team Wednesday. The Glen Mills, Pa., native amassed a team-high nine goals to go along with 26 points in his debut season. He earned two Hockey East player of the week honors and was the league’s rookie of the month for October.

It’s the sixth year in a row at least one Minuteman graced the squad.

Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @kylegrbwsk.]]>