Looking to rebound from a 2-1 upset loss at Rensselaer on Oct. 11, the Boston College hockey team defeated Wisconsin 6-0 in its home opener at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill Saturday.
The Eagles (2-1) took control early with a goal just 12 seconds into the game, when Austin Cangelosi cleaned up a loose puck in front of the net after a shot from Chris Calnan. Teddy Doherty tacked on another goal, this time short-handed, just four minutes, 27 seconds later. It was at this point that Badgers (0-2-2) coach Mike Eaves inserted first-year goaltender Matt Jurusick to replace starter Adam Miller in net.
In the first few minutes of the second period, Wisconsin applied some pressure on BC goaltender Thatcher Demko, but the Eagles quickly turned the table on Wisconsin. At 6:50 into the second period, Adam Gilmour found Ryan Fitzpatrick open in the slot, and Fitzgerald beat Jurusick to make it a 3-0 game.
The BC offense didn’t slow down, netting two more goals late in the waning moments of the second period. These goals, separated by just 40 seconds, came in large part to a strong forecheck and a quick, efficient transition game.
Colin White scored his second goal of the night at three minutes, 12 seconds of the third period as the Eagles cashed in on a five-on-three power play to provide the final tally of the contest.
Demko preserved a 20-save shutout against the Badgers for his fourth career shutout and first of the season. It was BC’s first shutout in its home opener since 2012 against Northwestern.
The Eagles will head west to face Colorado College in a two-game series this weekend. Puck drop Friday night is set for 9:30 p.m.
UConn handles Arizona State in home opener
Friday night in Hartford, Connecticut, the Connecticut improved to 2-1 on the young season, as the Huskies defeated Arizona State 5-1 at the XL Center.
UConn was led by sophomore Spencer Naas, who scored twice, and freshman Max Letunov, who continued his hot start to the year with two assists. The Huskies led the overall battle in shots on goal by a sizeable margin, outshooting the Sun Devils 41-25.
UConn took a quick 1-0 lead off of a shorthanded goal from sophomore Kasperi Ojantakanen in the first two minutes of the opening period. It was the Huskies’ first shorthanded tally since the 2012-13 season.
They would score two more goals in a 53-second span later in the first. Freshman Max Kalter scored his first collegiate goal after winning a puck battle and firing a shot into the net while falling to the ground. Naas scored the first of his two power play goals seconds later, tipping in a Letunov wrist shot. Shawn Pauly scored the lone goal of the second period to give UConn a 4-0 lead.
Arizona State (1-3) received its lone goal of the contest at 6:16 of the third period from Ryan Belonger, before Naas scored to restore a four-goal lead for the Huskies.
UConn returns to action and opens up its Hockey East schedule on the road against Boston University on Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
Jared Yellin can be reached at [email protected].
