CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Carter King's late third period goal with 2:02 remaining proved to be the game-winner as No. 3 Boston College fell to No. 2 Denver 4-3 on Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd of 7,884 at Kelley Rink.
The Eagles suffered their first loss of the season and fell to 3-1-0, while the Pioneers improved to 3-1-0. Saturday marked the 36th all-time meeting between the two schools.
Freshman Will Smith netted two goals for his first career multi-goal game, while sophomore Oskar Jellvik scored his third goal in four games to begin the season. Freshman Ryan Leonard recorded a game-high five shots on goal while also tallying an assist. Denver finished with a slim 28-27 edge on shots on goal.
Smith opened the scoring at 15:58 of the first period when he took a centering pass from Leonard along the right wing and beat Matt Davis five-hole from just outside the faceoff dot through a Gabe Perreault screen.
Denver answered back at 6:12 of the second frame when Massimo Rizzo beat a sprawling Jacob Fowler to tie the game.
The Eagles restored the lead when rookie Will Vote dished a pass to the left circle for Jellvik, whose shot beat Davis under his glove at 12:51 of the second. Vote posted his first career point with the assist.
Denver received goals from Connor Caponi and Tristan Broz in the third period to take a 3-2 lead with less than 10 minutes to play in the final frame.
BC answered again at 13:21 on the power play when Smith's one-timer from the left circle deflected off a Pioneer defender and found its way inside the right post. Eamon Powell and Cutter Gauthier collected the assists.
The Pioneers' late winner came on a weak side rebound that was tipped home at the right post by King off an initial shot from Jack Devine.
Boston College was 1-for-2 on the power play, while Denver was 2-for-5 and scored the first two goals against the Eagles' penalty kill this season. Rookie netminder Jacob Fowler recorded 24 saves on the night.
BC hosts No. 8 Michigan State for two games next Thursday and Friday night at Kelley Rink. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m.
