CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Cutter Gauthier scored twice in the first seven and a half minutes and No. 3 Boston College never looked back in a 6-1 non-conference victory over RPI on Friday night at Kelley Rink.
The Eagles improved to 3-0-0 heading into a Saturday night showdown with No. 2 Denver, while the Engineers dropped to 0-3-0. Friday marked the first meeting between the schools in eight seasons.
Rookie linemates Gabe Perreault and Will Smith each recorded his first collegiate goal and added an assist in the win. Oskar Jellvik and Connor Joyce also lit the lamp for the Eagles, who out-shot RPI 32-22.
Gauthier opened the scoring just 28 seconds into the night, sneaking a snap shot high blocker side through traffic from the high slot. The sophomore made it 2-0 at 7:21, burying a right side one-timer on the power play from captain Eamon Powell.
Sutter Muzzatti pulled a goal back for RPI at 4:40 of the second, but Perreault restored the two-goal cushion with an individual effort at 11:20. The freshman broke up a pass at neutral ice and streaked into the RPI zone before firing a shot into the top left corner from the inside hash mark.
Jellvik buried a centering pass from Colby Ambrosio just 31 seconds later to put the Eagles ahead 4-1. Joyce and Smith added third period goals within two minutes of one another to seal the win.
Rookie netminder Jacob Fowler made 21 saves and improved to 3-0-0 in his young career. Boston College was 3-for-3 on the penalty kill, giving it 14 straight kills to begin the season.
No. 3 BC and No. 2 Denver meet in a top-5 matchup at Kelley Rink on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
