DENVER – The No. 1 Denver Pioneers (6-0-0, NCHC 0-0-0-0) used three power-play goals as well as three goals in three minutes during the second period to defeat the No. 6 Boston College Eagles (2-2-0, Hockey East 0-0-0) 6-4 and sweep the series on Saturday at Magness Arena.
After winning 3-0 with two empty-net goals on Friday, the Pioneers scored in bunches on Saturday. Denver's waves of offense suffocated any chance of Boston College momentum with two goals separated by 56 seconds in the first period and three goals separated by 2:37 in the second period. The first-period goals flipped the Eagles' early 1-0 lead. The second-period goals established a three-goal Denver lead that would prove insurmountable.
"We had three lines score," Richard and Kitzia Goodman Head Coach
David Carle said. "It's really good to see and you need it in order to be a successful team. It's great to have depth and we're certainly fortunate to have it."
Boston College had chances to cut the deficit in the second period, including during a five-on-three power play for 1:32 at 11:33, but the Pioneers' penalty kill held the lead. The Eagles would eventually break through and cut Denver's advantage in the third with goals at 2:49 and 14:36, but a late penalty stifled Boston College's chance at a comeback. With the Pioneers leading 5-4, the Eagles were assessed a roughing minor at 18:04 and
Bobby Brink's power-play goal only 22 seconds later put the game out of reach. Denver finished 3/8 on the power play and 5/6 on the penalty kill.
It was an uncharacteristic first period for a goaltending matchup that combined for 51 saves on 52 shots Friday. In a matter of 6:44, 0-0 became 2-2. Alex Newhook opened the scoring shorthanded at 7:03, but the Pioneers responded three minutes later with
Tyson McLellan's power-play goal and
Jake Durflinger's first goal of the season to make it 2-1 in only 54 seconds. The Eagles tied the game with their own power-play goal 1:15 later to make it 2-2 at the first intermission.
McLelllan's second goal of the series gave way to his third at 1:29 of the second period to start the Pioneers' second offensive burst. After
Hank Crone found McLellan for a one-timer,
Ian Mitchell sent a shot through a screen on the power play and
Liam Finlay converted on Crone's third assist of the game to make it 5-2.
"It was an odd game in the fact that it was so different from last night," Carle said. "We have to win games in different ways and we found a way to get to the net on a really good goalie. I think it bodes well for our future."
…
Crone had three assists…McLellan had two goals and one assist…Mitchell extended his point streak to six games…Brink, Finlay and Mitchell each had one goal and one assist…
Magnus Chrona made 26 saves…Denver has scored a power-play goal in each of the last three games…
UP NEXT: Denver hosts Niagara for its 70th Anniversary Weekend on Nov. 1-2 at Magness Arena.
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