Boston College vs. Harvard: Beanpot Pregame Notes and Line Combinations

BOSTON -- Monday's opener to the 64th Beanpot Tournament is shaping up to be a real good one as No. 5 Boston College and No. 7 Harvard meet for the 21st time in the semifinal round and 123rd time in their storied hockey histories.

Faceoff is set for 5 p.m. The game will be televised on New England Sports Network and TSN (Canada) with Tom Caron and Andy Brickley on the call.

Harvard and BC each carry momentum from Friday night wins into this Beanpot heavyweight bout. Tonight's game also carries major national implications with the Crimson sitting fifth in the PairWise Rankings and Eagles just two spots behind.

Northeastern ended the Eagles' run of five straight Beanpot titles with a 3-2 victory in last year's second semifinal, but BC enters this year's tournament looking for its sixth title in seven years.

The Eagles made a statement in their Friday contest as junior goaltender Thatcher Demko pitched his eighth shutout of the season in a resounding 4-0 win at rival Notre Dame. Demko was tested most early against the Irish as he was called to make 14 of his 28 saves in the first period alone.

BC still boasts the best scoring margin (+2.36) in the country and more goals (104) than any team in Hockey East. Freshman Colin White and junior Adam Gilmour each recorded two-point nights in South Bend. White's goal and an assist extending a three-game point streak.

Harvard has won its last three games after Friday's 4-1 win over Princeton. The Crimson is looking to avenge last year's overtime loss to BC in the consolation game and clinch a berth in the Beanpot title game for the first time since 2008.

Senior Jimmy Vesey scored twice in Friday's third period to lead the Crimson and has now scored points in nine straight games to begin the 2016 calendar year. Vesey has scored six times in the last five games, including his first career hat trick against St. Lawrence on Jan. 15.

Here are tonight's lines:

CRIMSON (12-4-3)

Jimmy Vesey - Alexander Kerfoot - Kyle Criscuolo
Luke Esposito - Sean Malone - Colin Blackwell
Ryan Donato - Tyler Moy - Jake Horton
Devin Tringale - Lewis Zerter-Gossage - Michael Floodstrand

Desmond Bergin - Brayden Jaw
Wiley Sherman - Clay Anderson
Jacob Olson - Adam Baughman

Merrick Madsen
Michael Lackey 
Peter Traber

EAGLES (17-4-4)

Matthew Gaudreau - Colin White - Ryan Fitzgerald
Teddy Doherty - Zach Sanford - Alex Tuch
Miles Wood - Austin Cangelosi - Adam Gilmour
Travis Jeke - Christopher Brown - Chris Calnan
Peter McMullen (extra forward in warmups)

Ian McCoshen - Casey Fitzgerald 
Michael Kim - Steve Santini
Josh Couturier - Scott Savage

Thatcher Demko
Chuck Van Kula