BOSTON — To beat the top-ranked team in the country, the University of Maine could not afford lapses. But defensive mistakes came early, as Boston College took a quick lead and defeated the Black Bears 4-1 for the Hockey East championship Saturday night at the TD Garden.

Freshman Johnny Gaudreau scored two goals in the first 7 minutes and the Black Bears found themselves in a big hole against the red-hot Eagles.

Boston College (29-10-1) won its 15th straight game and its third straight Hockey East championship. The Eagles have won six of the last eight league titles and 11 overall.

Brian Flynn scored for the Black Bears (23-13-3), and Dan Sullivan was solid goal. BC scored an empty-net goal with 1 minute, 1 seconds left.

Both teams now turn their attention to the NCAA tournament next weekend. They will be among 16 teams announced during today’s selection show at noon. BC will be a No. 1 seed, while the Black Bears will likely be a No. 3 seed.

Maine was without the Hockey East player of the year, Spencer Abbott, who was injured Friday night when he was hit in the head by a Boston University defenseman.

Maine coach Tim Whitehead said Abbott’s status for the NCAA tournament is up in the air.

“We have to wait and see,” Whitehead said.

Maine will be sent to one of four regionals next weekend — Worcester, Mass; Bridgeport, Conn.; Green Bay, Wis.; or St. Paul, Minn.

The Black Bears could even be sent to the same regional as BC.

Maine swept the Eagles in two games on Jan. 20-21, but Boston College has not lost since. BC switched back to goalie Parker Milner after the Maine series, and he’s been starring between the pipes.

Maine moved Matt Mangene to the top line to replace Abbott, and the unit had a strong first shift with three shots.

But the Eagles soon took over. BC players were getting free in the Maine zone and creating chances.

Patch Alber sent a puck toward the crease. Maine defenseman Nick Pryor stopped the puck but could not control it. It bounced away from him, right to Gaudreau’s stick, and he scored at 5:24.

Maine’s Joey Diamond went to the box on an interference call at 7:22. It took BC nine seconds to score on its power play. One shot was blocked. Sullivan stopped the first rebound, but then Gaudreau got the loose puck, had space to maneuver and tucked the puck in at 7:31 for a 2-0 lead.

Maine had two power plays in the period, but Milner stopped any decent chances.

Meanwhile, the Eagles kept attacking, outshooting the Black Bears 20-11 in the first period. Sullivan kept Maine in the game.

The Black Bears got within one when Maine’s top line came through. Diamond centered to Flynn, who roofed a backhander at 7:37 of the second.

But Boston College restored its two-goal lead late in the period, thanks to another good play by Gaudreau. He collected a rebound, skated around the net and fed Pat Mullane for a one-timer at 18:39, putting the Eagles up 3-1.

How safe was the Eagles’ lead? They have not allowed more than two goals in a game since January.

Milner stopped Kyle Beattie’s one-timer in the first minute of the third period. And the BC defense held on.

Notes: Boston College and Maine have met seven times in the Hockey East championship game, the most of any two teams (Boston University and New Hampshire have met three times). BC has a 5-2 advantage over Maine in title games.