By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer

BOSTON, Mass. – Eventually they would get another one past Jimmy Howard. That’s what Boston College kept thinking Friday.

Yet as the longest semifinal game in Hockey East history went on and on, the University of Maine goaltender turned aside every Eagles offering. Every threat became another failed attempt.

Finally in the second overtime at the FleetCenter, a seemingly innocent shot from Andrew Alberts at the right point snuck past Howard’s mitt and inside the right post to lift the Eagles to a 2-1 victory over the Black Bears in front of a sellout crowd of 17,565.

“We talked about the fact that Maine ended our season two out of the last three years,” said Alberts. “So to come back and get a win here was a big boost for our club.”

Howard made 36 saves in another superb effort. The Maine junior stopped 60-plus shots last year in three overtimes in the longest Hockey East title game, and stopped 40 shots against BC in the 2-1 Frozen Four semifinal victory last year.

“He’s awesome,” said Maine coach Tim Whitehead. “He’s fabulous. I’m running out of compliments for him. He’s great. He just gives us a lift every time. It’s great to have a goalie like that. The guys are just so confident in him. That game could have been over a long time ago.”

The Black Bears (20-12-7) must wait until Sunday to learn their fate in the NCAA Tournament.

“I think we’ll know a lot more before Sunday,” said Whitehead. “We don’t know if we’re in. I certainly hope this game is not our last. I think we can represent our university well in the tournament. I think if we can get into the tournament we’ll have a good chance to do something. I think we’ll be a great team in the tournament. We’ll see. A lot of things are out of our control.”

Alberts’ goal 9:09 into the second overtime ended Maine’s hopes for an automatic bid. BC (24-6-7) got the puck in deep. Dan Bertram gained control in the corner and fed it up to the left point for Brian O’Hanley, who slid a pass across to Alberts at the right point.

“It’s kind of a blur,” said Alberts. “Maine’s defense, two guys went over to O’Hanley. I gave a yell, and he threw it over.”

As Alberts’ fired the wrister from the right circle, Maine’s Jon Ronan slid over between Howard and the shooter. The puck nicked his stick and snuck by Howard’s glove.

“It was sort of a broken play,” said Howard. “He walked in a little and let a shot go. Ronan tried to block it and it hit his stick and went under my glove.”

The offenses took some time to click, but by the third period, both clubs were heating up and so were both goaltenders.

Howard made some crucial saves early to preserve the tie. Howard stuffed Chris Collins on a breakaway with 10:55 left. Brian Boyle then hit the post with a backhander while cutting through the slot, and Bertram was there for the rebound, but Howard made the stop.

The biggest Black Bear save came from Mike Lundin. With a delayed penatly and Howard off the ice, Michel Leveille’s errant pass was headed toward an open net. Lundin kept it out just as it neared the goal line.

Boston College’s unbeaten freshman goaltender Cory Schneider, who turned 19 Friday, swapped saves with Howard. After stopping scoring chances by Keith Johnson and Jon Jankus late in regulation, Schneider stoned Josh Soares twice after Greg Moore won a faceoff after an icing call with 7.2 seconds left.

In the first overtime, the goaltenders continued their spectacular play. BC had a one-timer from Bertram that Howard calmly kicked aside. He later stopped a slapper when Maine was caught in a line change. His best save came with just 30 seconds left in the first overtime when he made a sprawling stop on a breakaway by Collins.

BC was without its top point producer Patrick Eaves, who was injured last weekend.

Maine bottled up the BC offense in the opening period. The Eagles didn’t get a shot on net until 9:29 remained in the period. With the exception of a brief flurry with four minutes to go, the Eagles never challenge Howard.

UMaine outshot BC 14-4 in the opening period and started the game outshooting them 8-0, but came up empty on two power play opportunities.

“We had a lot of power play chances, and not capitalizing on them hurt us a lot,” said Moore. “That could have been the difference right there.”

Boston College took a 1-0 lead on a power play when Pat Gannon spotted Boyle across the slot at the right circle. Boyle put a deke on Howard and fired it inside the left post at 6:39.

BC’s lead didn’t last long. Maine came right black to tie it 12 seconds later when Soares converted a Leveille rebound in front at 6:51.

“That was huge for the rest of the game,” said Moore. “To comeback like that really lifted the team up. Soares did a great job driving to the net and finishing the goal. It really lifted the bench up for the rest of the game.”