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Sophomore forward Jack McBain posted a goal and two assists for the Eagles
Boston College Falls to Denver, 6-4

DENVER - Despite a furious third period comeback, sixth-ranked Boston College fell 6-4 to No. 1 Denver on Saturday night to close a weekend series at sold out Magness Arena.

The Pioneers swept the non-conference series and improved to 6-0-0, while the Eagles fell back to .500 at 2-2-0.

Freshmen Alex Newhook and Mike Hardman each collected his first collegiate goal in the loss, while sophomore Jack McBain posted a three-point night.

A first round pick of the Colorado Avalanche, Newhook followed a Marshall Warren wraparound attempt at the back door to open the scoring seven minutes into the first period.

Denver responded quickly with goals from Tyson McLellan and Jake Durflinger less than a minute apart to take its first lead.

Aapeli Räsänen then converted a rebound at 13:47 from David Cotton and Julius Mattila on the power play, knotting the score at two heading into the first intermission, but the Pioneers seized control of the game in the opening five minutes of the middle frame.

McLellan finished a one-timer in the slot off a feed from Hank Crone at 1:29 to restore Denver's advantage. Ian Mitchell and Liam Finlay followed by beating Spencer Knight (31 saves) through the five-hole just 37 seconds apart to hand the hosts a 5-2 edge.

BC came up empty on a 5-on-3 power play for 1:32 later in the period and the Pioneers retained their three-goal cushion heading into the third.

Hardman was able to knock the puck inside the left post after a strong net drive from McBain only three minutes into the final frame. McBain tipped Drew Helleson's fluttering shot through traffic to beat Magnus Chrona (22 saves) glove side at 14:36 to pull the Eagles within one.

Boston College squandered a power play chance with four minutes remaining and took a roughing penalty with 1:56 on the clock. Bobby Brink banged in a rebound from the top of the crease to seal the win for Denver on the ensuing power play.


SCORING SUMMARY

1st 7:03, BC Goal (1-0) | Warren partially fanned on a wraparound bid as Chrona made a blocker save, but Newhook was waiting on the weak side and found the left side of the net.

1st 11:36, DU Goal (1-1) | Denver worked a triangle play as Hank Crone fed McLellan in the right circle and the senior fired a low one-timer inside the left post.

1st 12:32, DU Goal (1-2) | Knight's initial save on Brett Edwards spilled into the low slot for Durflinger, who quickly buried a one-timer high glove side.

1st 13:47, BC Goal (2-2) | Chrona stopped Mattila's one-timer from the right wing, but Cotton got a piece of the rebound at the top of the crease and Räsänen muscled the puck into the net.

2nd 1:29, DU Goal (2-3) | Crone found McLellan open in the slot, and his first-time effort whistled past Knight's blocker for his second of the night.

2nd 3:29, DU Goal (2-4) | On a Pioneers power play, Mitchell sent a low wrist shot on target from the right wing and it found an opening between Knight's pads.

2nd 4:06, DU Goal (2-5) | Finlay took a pass from Crone in stride in the low right faceoff circle and slid a shot five-hole for his first of the year.

3rd 2:49, BC Goal (3-5) | McBain cut down the right wing and threw a weak-angle shot on Chrona. The puck hit Hardman's skate as he was stopping at the crease and it trickled inside the left post.

3rd 14:36, BC Goal (4-5) | Hardman sent a pass to the right point for Helleson and his soft wrist shot was redirected by McBain into the right half of the net glove side.

3rd 18:26, DU Goal (4-6) | Mitchell curled around the right circle and wristed a shot on Knight, whose rebound was finished inside the left post first-time by Brink.


UP NEXT

Boston College returns to Kelley Rink for its Hockey East opener next Friday (Oct. 25) against No. 12 Providence at 7 p.m. on NESNplus.

Game Summary

Saturday, October 19, 2019

4
6
Game statistics
26 Shots 37
1 / 6 Power Plays 3 / 8
10 / 31 PIM 9 / 29
2-2-0 Records 6-0-0
GOAL SCORERS
Boston College Denver
Alex Newhook (1)
1st/7:03 SH
Tyson McLellan (2)
1st/11:36 PP
Jake Durflinger (1)
1st/12:32
Aapeli Räsänen (1)
1st/13:47 PP
Tyson McLellan (3)
2nd/1:29
Ian Mitchell (3)
2nd/3:29 PP
Liam Finlay (1)
2nd/4:06  GW
Mike Hardman (1)
3rd/2:49
Drew Helleson (1)
3rd/14:36
Bobby Brink (3)
3rd/18:26 PP
GOALTENDERS
Boston College Denver
Spencer Knight
59:27, 31 Saves, 6 GA
(L, 2-2-0)

Empty Net
0:33, 0 GA
Magnus Chrona
60:00, 22 Saves, 4 GA
(W, 6-0-0)