Junior forward Ales Dolinar’s goal at 15:19 of the third period broke a 2-2 tie and lifted Boston College to a 3-2 win over Denver University before a crowd of 4,712 at the Pioneers’ season opener at Magness Arena.
Special teams proved key for the Eagles, as BC (3-0-0) finished the game one-for-three on the power play while successfully killing all of Denver’s (0-1-0) six power-play opportunities. On the season, BC opponents are now 1-for-26 with the man advantage.
Denver got on the board first when J. J. Hartmann slipped a goal past BC goaltender Tim Kelleher just 1:03 into the game. BC was outshot 11-3 in the first period.
The Pioneers would hold the lead until the 13:57 mark of the second stanza, when senior forward Marty Hughes scored a power-play goal to tie the score at one. Freshman Ben Eaves and senior Mike Lephart assisted on the goal.
BC took its first lead of the game 4:33 into the final period when sophomore forward Krys Kolanos scored on a feed from senior captain Brian Gionta to give the Eagles the 2-1 lead. Hughes also assisted on the play.
DU answered with a Jordan Bianchin goal at the 12:39 mark of the third period to tie the score at 2-2, setting up Dolinar’s winner two-plus minutes later.
Seeing his first action of the season, sophomore goaltender Tim Kelleher made 24 saves to earn the win. DU sophomore Wade Dubielewicz finished with 22 saves.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday. Game time is 7 p.m. Central at Magness.
