HAMDEN, Conn. - Sophomore Cutter Gauthier snapped a shot high glove side with 9.5 seconds left in overtime on Saturday night, lifting No. 6 Boston College past defending national champion and second-ranked Quinnipiac 2-1 in the season opener for both teams at M&T Bank Arena.
Sophomore Andre Gasseau registered his third career shorthanded goal in the first period, while rookie netminder Jacob Fowler stopped 29 of the 30 shots he faced in his NCAA debut for the victory. Boston College's penalty kill was a perfect 7-for-7 on the night and blocked 13 Bobcat shots.
Gasseau opened the scoring late in the opening frame, picking off a pass in the defensive zone and streaking down the left wing. The forward drifted into the left wing circle and fired a shot short side to beat Vinny Duplessis at 18:11.
The Bobcats tied the game with 5:28 left in the third period when Mason Marcellus followed a deflected right wing shot and tapped in a rebound off the right post.
Gauthier's winner came in the closing seconds of overtime following a cross-ice pass from Ryan Leonard, who collected his first career point with the primary assist. Gauthier reeled in the pass at the top of the right circle and wristed a heavy shot high glove side on Duplessis.
Gauthier led all skaters with eight shots on net.
BC begins a six-game homestand next Friday with its home opener against LIU at 7 p.m.
