Minnesota Routs Top-Ranked Boston College 8-1
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Boston College coach Jerry York was the talk of the opening round of the Mariucci Classic men's hockey tournament Saturday after winning his NCAA record-setting 925th game.
On Sunday, Minnesota was the rage after handing York his 559th loss, an 8-1 thrashing of the top-ranked Eagles in the championship game.
Fourth-ranked Minnesota scored four power-play goals and another short-handed. The Golden Gophers (13-3-3) dominated in a rematch of last year's Frozen Four semifinal won 6-1 by Boston College.
Nick Bjugstad scored the first of his two goals on the power play just 2:52 into the game. He also assisted on two goals. Bjugstad netted his second goal at 13:53 of the first for a 3-0 lead.
"We looked at their system and realized what they did last year, shutting down our power play," Bjugstad said. "We went about it different."
Kyle Rau added two goals — one on the power play — and an assist.
Minnesota was 4-for-8 with a man advantage. The Gophers also scored another goal seconds after a power play ended, leading the Eagles to replace Parker Milner in goal. Seconds later, Minnesota scored on Brian Billett. Milner had 25 saves; Billett three.
Freshman goalie Adam Wilcox made 32 saves and added an assist on Minnesota's last goal by Sam Warning. It was Minnesota's first short-handed goal of the season.
"It was kind of fun to get Wilcox an assist," Warning said.
Wilcox made 14 saves in the first period.
"He plays like a senior back there," Bjugstad said. "It's fun having him behind you."
Zach Budish had three assists and Erik Haula added two assists.
Steven Whitney had the Eagles' (12-3-1) only goal on a 5-on-3 power play.
The tournament title was Minnesota's 13th overall and first since the 2008-09 season.
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