Eventually, you're going to find a release valve and take that frustration out on your opposition.
On Friday at Conte Forum, Jerry York Night finally happened, and his Boston College Eagles responded with a sound 9-2 thrashing of the Wisconsin Badgers in front of a sell-out crowd.
In typical fashion, York was even-handed about the blowout victory against the new Big Ten program, which up until this season, used to be a big WCHA program.
"No way we were seven goals better than the Badgers," BC's long-time head coach said. "Everything we did tonight kind of turned into goals. We were moving pucks well. We were finishing. It could be a completely different game if we played tomorrow with the same teams. On this particular night, everything was going just how you diagrammed."
It marked the first time in nearly nine months the top-10 ranked school hit the nine-goal mark, after dishing out a 9-3 beating at Northeastern on January 19. BC last tallied as many on home ice on January 31, 2003 in a 9-0 dismantling of UMass-Amherst.
Boston College improved to 2-1-0 on the season thanks to balanced scoring: 15 different players notched at least one point and four different skaters posted three points, including South Jersey's own Johnny Gaudreau. The junior, now picked to be a leader in the hunt for a fifth national title since 2000, became the 74th player in school history to reach the 100-point plateau after striking for a goal and two assists.
“My freshman and sophomore years, I got to play with Steven Whitney and Pat Mullane and I wouldn’t be here with my 100th point without playing with those two guys my first two seasons,’’ said Gaudreau. “It was a really special opportunity for me. It’s just been a really fun three years so far and I’m extremely grateful I’ve gotten to play with some great players.’’
The victory was the 937th in the Watertown, MA native's career, and his banner-raising came almost 10 months after setting the NCAA mark in earnest with win #925, on December 29 in the Mariucci Classic in Minneapolis against Alabama-Huntsville.
Since then, BC was usurped by the resurgent UMass-Lowell RiverHawks for the Hockey East regular-season and playoff crowns, York was felled unexpectedly by two detached retinas in the same eye as the push for the postseason got underway, the Eagles were eliminated in the conference semifinal game by rival BU, then taken out in the first round of the Northeast Regional by Flyers prospect defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere's Union College, and the ensuing offseason all created a geyser of pressure which the hosts released over an unlucky foe.
All of that was wiped away in a four-goal blitz within a span of 5:39 after the midway point of the first period. Austin Cangelosi scored the first two of his collegiate career, Gaudreau added a marker and Ian McCoshen finished the burst, part of an 18-7 first-period shot edge for Boston College.
Michael Matheson, Scott Savage and Michael Sit produced their first goals of the season in the second period before Wisconsin finally answered with a Michael Mersch tally to make it 7-1 after 40 minutes of play.
Kevin Hayes and Patrick Brown lit the red light sandwiched around Nik Kerdiles' goal for the Badgers in the third period.
Brian Billett had an easy night, making just 19 stops. Landon Peterson was pulled after allowing six goals on 16 shots, with Adam Miller finishing up by surrendering three scores on 24 chances.
“Two of our greatest fears tonight were playing our first game on a small sheet against a quick team and a team that was fired up for their coach,” said Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves. “Our hope was to survive the first. And we didn’t.”
The rout gave Hockey East a 2-0-1 advantage in the early stages of its round robin against the Big Ten. Wisconsin takes on Boston University tonight, while BC is off until a pair of games at Minnesota next weekend.
No
way we’re seven goals better than the Badgers,” said York, who was
greeted by former BC coach Len Ceglarski, who once held the same NCAA
record for career wins (673) before retiring. “Everything we did tonight
kind of turned to goals. We were just moving pucks well. We were
finishing. It could be a completely different game if we played tomorrow
with the same teams. This particular night, everything was going just
how you diagram it - See more at:
http://bostonherald.com/sports/college/college_hockey/2013/10/banner_night_at_home_for_eagles#sthash.oYJ8ir5O.dpuf"
No
way we’re seven goals better than the Badgers,” said York, who was
greeted by former BC coach Len Ceglarski, who once held the same NCAA
record for career wins (673) before retiring. “Everything we did tonight
kind of turned to goals. We were just moving pucks well. We were
finishing. It could be a completely different game if we played tomorrow
with the same teams. This particular night, everything was going just
how you diagram it - See more at:
http://bostonherald.com/sports/college/college_hockey/2013/10/banner_night_at_home_for_eagles#sthash.oYJ8ir5O.dpuf
No
way we’re seven goals better than the Badgers,” said York, who was
greeted by former BC coach Len Ceglarski, who once held the same NCAA
record for career wins (673) before retiring. “Everything we did tonight
kind of turned to goals. We were just moving pucks well. We were
finishing. It could be a completely different game if we played tomorrow
with the same teams. This particular night, everything was going just
how you diagram it - See more at:
http://bostonherald.com/sports/college/college_hockey/2013/10/banner_night_at_home_for_eagles#sthash.oYJ8ir5O.dpuf
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