FOUR-GOAL SECOND PERIOD PROPELS BOSTON COLLEGE PAST DENVER, 6-2
Cam Atkinson and Joe Whitney each post goal and two assists for Eagles

Senior captain Joe Whitney had a goal and two assists for the Eagles

DENVER, Colo. - Captain Joe Whitney and junior Cam Atkinson each tallied a game-high three points - one goal and two assists - and six different skaters notched their first goals of the year to lead No. 1 Boston College to a 6-2 non-conference victory over No. 6 Denver before a sellout crowd of 6,036 in Magness Arena in the first of a two-game weekend series between the Eagles and Pioneers.

Whitney netted the only goal of the first period - at 16:33 - before BC scored four unanswered tallies in the middle stanza to build a 5-0 lead with 7:19 left in the period.

Atkinson, Tommy Cross and Jimmy and Kevin Hayes each tallied second-period goals before senior alternate captain Brian Gibbons concluded the scoring with the only special teams' goal of the night - a shorthanded tally at 7:48 in the final frame.

Atkinson, who led the nation in goals scored last winter, opened the second-period scoring early. The 5-foot-8, 175-pound forward finished a Joe Whitney pass in front of the Denver net at 1:27 for his first of the season.

Cross and each of the Hayes' brothers scored once within three minutes, 24 seconds for a 5-0 lead at 12:41.

Cross built the BC lead to 3-0 on a wrist shot from the slot at 9:17 with Kevin Hayes assisting. After Jimmy Hayes lifted the Eagles to a four-goal lead 59 seconds later, his younger brother Kevin notched his first collegiate tally at 12:41.

Denver scored its first goal of the game on junior Luke Salazar first of two goals on the night at 15:35. Salazer also scored at 4:50 of the final frame.

Gibbons concluded the game's scoring with a shorthanded goal at 7:48.

BC senior goaltender John Muse recorded 27 saves to earn his second win of the season and the 64th of his career. Denver sophomore goalie Adam Murray recorded 28 saves in the losing effort.

BC outshot the host Pioneers, 34-29, including a 12-8 advantage in the four-goal second period.

The teams will conclude the weekend series on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 9 p.m. EST.

Team Records: Boston College - 2-0-0; Denver 1-1-1

Game Notes: Eight of the game's nine goals were scored while the teams were skating at even strength ... Denver took its team timeout at 10:16 of the second period ... BC improved to 10-13-0 in the all-time series against Denver.