Boston College beats Air Force, 8-2
12/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Dec. 29, 2007
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Boston College, ranked 14th in the nation, scored three goals in the first period and never looked back in an 8-2 win over Air Force in the first game of the Dodge Holiday Classic at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis, Minn.
With the victory, Boston College advances to the championship game against the winner of the RIT/Minnesota game at either 4:07 or 7:07 CT pm on Sunday, Dec. 30. Air Force will face the loser of the RIT/Minnesota game on Sunday, Dec. 30, at either 4:07 or 7:07 pm.
The Falcons fell to 9-5-3 overall and the Falcons' six-game unbeaten streak came to an end. Boston College improved to 7-4-5 overall and extended its winning streak to four games.
Boston College scored three first-period goals to take control of the game early. BC's power-play unit is the third-best in the nation and the Eagles converted on their first opportunity as Dan Bertram scored his second of the season. Nathan Gerbe made a cross ice pass and Bertram beat Andrew Volkening from the bottom of the left circle. Just minutes later, the Falcons went on the power-play and nearly tied the game as Michael Mayra's slap shot from the high slot hit the cross bar and then caromed off the goaltender's back toward the goal. Eagle freshman John Muse covered the puck to preserve the 1-0 lead. The Eagles then scored two goals in a span of three minutes. After a Falcon turnover deep in the Air Force end, Benn Ferriero scored for a 2-0 lead at the 12:30 mark. At the 15:19 mark, Brian Gibbons redirected a shot by Tim Filangieri for a 3-0 lead. After the goal, Ian Harper replaced Volkening in goal for the Falcons.
The Eagles continued to dominate the game with three goals in the second period. Just 40 seconds into the second period, BC took a 4-0 lead as Bertram scored his second of the game as he put back a rebound of his own shot. At the 5:16 mark, the Eagles struck again when Ben Smith scored from Gerbe after a Falcon turnover.
Air Force got on the board early in the third period when Jeff Hajner scored his seventh of the season 45 seconds into the period. Greg Flynn made a long outlet pass and Brent Olson tipped it to Hajner on the right wing. The sophomore pulled up in the right circle and wristed one past Muse. However, on the ensuing faceoff, BC won the draw and 11 seconds later, Gerbe skated down the slot past everyone for his 14th of the season to give the Eagles a 7-1 lead. The Falcons answered when Josh Frider scored on the power play at 5:58 from Mike Phillipich and Brett Nylander. Frider took the feed at the blue line and skated down the slot uncontested for his sixth of the season. BC took an 8-2 lead when Smith scored from Gerbe at 8:33.
Boston College outshot Air Force, 33-26. Each team was 1-for-3 on the power play. Volkening started in net for the Falcons and played the first 15 minutes, giving up three goals and making eight saves. Harper played the final 45 minutes and made a season-high 17 saves while allowing five goals. Muse stopped 24 of 26 for the Eagles.
"We have a lot of holes to fill on our team and they were magnified tonight," head coach Frank Serratore said. "They have some great individual players and they played very well as a team."
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