LIVEBLOG: Merrimack Faces Boston College in Hockey East Championship

For the first time ever, Merrimack College has a shot at the Hockey East Championship and we're bringing you along to the game. The Warriors will face reigning Hockey East Champs the Boston College Eagles tonight.

Check back to this liveblog throughout the night for score updates, color from the crowd and antics from the TD Garden.

9:30 p.m.: The BC Eagles are the Hockey East Champs. Final score is 5-3. Final shots are 39 for Merrimack and 35 for BC.

9:27 p.m.: Play stops with 5 seconds left in the game. Eagles fans are jubilant.

9:26 p.m.: Empty net for Merrimack for the extra skater.

9:24 p.m.: One minute left in the third. Shots are 39-36 Merrimack.

9:22 p.m.: BC scores to secure the lead on Merrimack, 5-3. Brian Dumoulin gets that goal.

9:21 p.m.: Merrimack's Jordan Heywood is heading to the box now for hooking. Hate to say it but this game might be over.

9:20 p.m.: Just over 2 minutes left and BC leads 4-3 over Merrimack. BC kills the penalty and play is back at even strength.

9:19 p.m.: BC ices the puck no-problemo over and over.

9:18 p.m.: Merrimack now goes on the powerplay again as Philip Samuelson heads to the box.

9:14 p.m.: That didn't take long; BC answers and makes the score 4-3. 5 minutes left in the third. Cam Atkinson scored that one. Score is 4-3.

9:12 p.m.: Merrimack scores quick and the place goes CRAZY!!!  Flanigan will get credited with that one, from Mike Collins and Stephane da Costa. Score is tied at 3. This is Flanigan's second of the evening.

9:11 p.m.: BC's Joe Whitney will head to the penalty box now for elbowing. Merrimack now on power play.

9:03 p.m.: BC scores and takes the 3-2 lead after Cam Atkinson puts the puck right past Cannata. Brian Gibbons and Joe Whitney will get the assists on that one.

8:57 p.m.: Merrimack now outshooting BC 32-27. Still tied at 2, however.

8:53 p.m.: Merrimack shoots but it goes wide. BC kills the penalty.

8:51 p.m.: And we're back! Third period starts off with Merrimack on the power play.

8:34 p.m: BC's  Steven Whitney heads to the box for hooking. Time runs out in the second, so Merrimack will start the third period on a power play for 1:33. Shots are tied at 26. Attendance at tonight's game is 14,571.

8:25 p.m.: About 4 minutes left in the second and BC leads in shots 25-22. Score still tied at 2.

8:21 p.m.: Barry Almeida makes a huge shot for BC but Cannata spots it quick and lays on it to stop it.

8:18 p.m.: Merrimack kills the penalty and strength is back to even. Still tied at 2 a piece.

8:16 p.m.: BC shoots twice and is denied by Cannata. Warriors ice the puck.

8:14 p.m.: Merrimack player Kyle Bigos called for slashing. BC is now on a 5 on 3 power play.

8:12 p.m.: About 11 minutes left in the second and Merrimack is outshooting BC 21-19. Merrimack's Carter Madsen just called for hooking, so BC is now on the power play.

8:11 p.m.: Seconds left in their power play and Merrimack can't engineer a goal. Back to even strength now.

8:08 p.m.: Merrimack goes on the power play, BC's Barry Almeida heads to the penalty box after an interference call.

8:06 p.m.: Merrimack takes some shots on Muse but none of them connect. Score is still tied at 2-all.

8:01 p.m.: Second period begins and shots are now 16-15 in favor of Merrimack.

7:41 p.m.: That's a wrap on the first period. BC and Merrimack are tied at 2.

7:40 p.m.: Merrimack scores on the power play and the garden erupts with screaming and cheering! Mike Collins scored, assisted by Joe Cucci and Stephane Da Costa.

7:27 p.m.: BC penalty on Pat Mullane for obstruction. 50 seconds left in the period, score is still 2-1 BC.

7:35 p.m.: Score is 2 to 1 BC but Merrimack is now outshooting the Eagles 12-11. Merrimack just misses a wrap-around goal.

7:34 p.m.: BC shot but Cannata guarded the puck and protected it like his first born.

7:33 p.m.: BC brings the puck to the Merrimack zone to set up their power play. Merrimack quickly sends it up the ice.

7:30 p.m.: Merrimack's Mike Collins called for slashing. Both teams will be at even strength for a minute before  BC power play.

7:29 p.m.: Officials determine no goal for Merrimack. Score is 2-1.

7:28 p.m.: Looked like Merrimack duumped it in the net, but the play is being reviewed.

7:27 p.m.: Merrimack goes on the power play after BC's Joe Whitney called for tripping.

7:26 p.m.: Cam Atkinson shoots on Merrimack net but is denied by Cannata.

7:23 p.m.: BC is outshooting Merrimack 10-6. 8:10 left in the first period.

7:21 p.m.: It doesn't take long for BC to break that tied game - BC's Brian Gibbons scores on Cannata, assisted by Cam Atkinson. Score is 2-1 in BC's favor.

7:18 p.m.: Merrimack answers just seconds later and the crowd goes nuts!  Ryan Flanigan scored, assisted by Carter Madsen. Now each team is tied at 1. Flanigan has now scored in four straight games.

7:17 p.m.: BC is first to put a point up on the board. Pat Mullane scores right between Cannata's legs. 10:40 left in the period. It was unassisted. Mullane now has a five-game point streak.

7:15 p.m.: BC makes a shot on Cannata's net but no dice for them. Shots are now 6-4 in BC's favor. The next face off will be down low on Merrimack's net.

7:12 p.m.: Merrimack brings the puck down low on BC's end but Muse makes a big save. Shots are now 4-2 in BC's favor. Score is still 0-0.

7:09 p.m.: BC outshooting Merrimack 4-1 with 13:52 left in the period.

7:03 p.m.: The Garden has filled up a little more now. BC has been driving the puck down low on Merrimack's net and made three shots but nothing came of it.

7:01 p.m.: The puck has dropped and BC fans are cheering for their Eagles. The Garden is about half full, but Merrimack fans making their presence known as well.

6:52 p.m.: John Muse will be in the net tonight for BC, and Joe Cannata in the net for Merrimack.

6:31 p.m.: Welcome to the liveblog! Both teams are on the ice warming up for the game. Fans are settling in their seats and getting ready for the game to begin.