CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Senior Barry Almeida and sophomore Kevin Hayeseach tallied two points on one goal and one assist to lead top-ranked Boston College, but the host Eagles surrendered three goals through two periods and an empty-net score with 38 seconds remaining in the third period and fell to third-ranked Denver, 4-2, before a sellout crowd of 7,884 fans in Kelley Rink.
Denver senior forward Drew Shore netted the decisive goal at 8:49 of the middle period. The goal put the the visiting Pioneers up by two - at 3-1.
Hayes, who tallied the primary assist on Almeida's first-period power-play goal that tied the score at 1-1 at 6:05, brought BC to within one goal with 2:47 left in the second period.
The teams played 19:21 minutes of scoreless hockey in the third period before Denver defenseman David Makowski scored into an empty net in the game's final minute for the 4-2 final.
BC tallied a narrow 23-22 edge in the shot category and went 1-for-5 in man-advantage opportunities while Denver was 0-for-4 on the power play.
Denver junior goaltender Adam Murray made 21 saves to record the victory in the team's 2011-12 opener.
BC junior goaltender Parker Milnerregistered 18 saves in the losing effort, the Eagles' first home-opening loss since the 2005-06 season (against Maine, 2-1).
Next, Boston College travels to New Hampshire for the team's Hockey East opener on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.
Team Records: Denver (1-0-0, 0-0-0 WCHA), Boston College (2-1-0, 0-0-0 Hockey East)