College Hockey Showdown: North Dakota defeats BC in New York City

NEW YORK CITY- The first College Hockey Showdown came and went with the Fighting Hawks heading home to the Upper Midwest happy after a 4-3 victory Saturday in front of an announced crowd of 11,348 at Madison Square Garden.

UND forward Trevor Olson’s goal, his first in nearly two full calendar years, with 2:01 remaining proved to be the game-winner. Sophomore Joel Janatuinen broke a 2-2 deadlock nine minutes earlier following Boston College third period power play goals by Colin White (Ottawa Senators) and Chris Brown (Buffalo Sabres).

“We’re very grateful to be here. It was a great experience for our student athletes,” said UND head coach Brad Berry. “It’s been an Achilles heel trying to win a game against such a great program.”

With a Frozen Four-caliber match-up inside the world’s most famous arena, North Dakota (8-5-3, 2-3-1 NCHC) and Boston College played a tight December game fitting of two top-ten clubs. Neither team scored in the first period after BC goalie Joe Woll and his Fighting Hawks counterpart Cam Johnson, who made 28 saves Saturday, kept everyone at bay.

Tyson Jost (Colorado Avalanche) scored a pair of second period goals for North Dakota. His first, which came 8:57 into the middle frame, was a product of BC’s Michael Kim breaking his stick. Austin Poganski took advantage, found Jost in front of the net and the freshman did the rest, making a move around Woll skating left to right to put the puck into the net.

His second came with 5:58 remaining in the second, turning being out-shot 15-5 three minutes into the period into a 2-0 lead.

Boston College (12-5-1, 7-0-1 Hockey East) had an opportunity early in the third period. Rhett Gardner was called for facemasking and a game misconduct in the closing seconds of the second and Chris Wilkie was called for a slash. The Eagles regrouped and took advantage of the extra five minute major.

“We didn’t have to tell them anything,” Boston College head coach Jerry York said about his team entering the five minute major. “I thought we had some really good chances and were able to capitalize on two.”

White scored on the five-on-three and Brown put back a rebound as the major expired. BC had a couple chances before Janatuinen tapped in a loose puck to re-take the lead. It held as Olson and Boston College’s Matthew Gaudreau - with eight seconds remaining - traded goals in the closing minutes.

Woll finished with 30 saves.