Top Line Powers Eagles Past UMass 5-2 in Opening Round

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Boston College's top line of Nikita Nesterenko, Cutter Gauthier and Andre Gasseau combined for nine points and a plus-11 rating in a 5-2 victory over UMass in the Hockey East Opening Round on Wednesday night at Kelley Rink.

The eighth-seeded Eagles (14-15-6) advance to face No. 2 seed Merrimack on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Hockey East Quarterfinal at Lawler Rink on NESN.

The Minutemen closed their season with a record of 13-17-5.

BC improved to 10-1-0 all-time against UMass in the Hockey East Tournament, including 10 straight victories. The Eagles have won six straight in the overall series, including all four meetings this season, and are 10-1-0 in their last 11…