BOSTON COLLEGE DEFEATED BY MINNESOTA, 8-1

Senior forward Steven Whitney scored a goal for the Eagles

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Host Minnesota scored four times on eight power-play chances - attempting 20-of-36 shots in total while with a man advantage - and beat top-ranked Boston College, 8-1, to capture the Mariucci Classic before a sellout crowd of 10,230 fans at Mariucci Arena.

The Gophers led 3-0 after one period, 4-0 after two and outscored the Eagles 4-1 in the final frame en route to the non-league victory in the first meeting between the teams since last April's 6-1 BC victory in the NCAA semifinals in Tampa, Fla.

Minnesota freshman goaltender stopped 32-of-33 Boston College shots, including a remarkable glove save on a Steven Whitney wrist shot in the second period, to capture his 12th victory of the season.

Whitney scored the Eagles' lone goal of the contest, his ninth of the season, on the power play in the 14th minute of the third period. Freshman defenseman Michael Matheson and junior forward Kevin Hayes assisted on the play.

Nick Bjugstad was credited with the game's first goal, a power-play tally that was confirmed upon video review just 2:52 into the contest, and finished the night with a game-high four points - two goals and two assists - to lead a Minnesota top line that scored five goals (left wing Kyle Rau scored twice and right wing Nate Condon scored once).

Seth Ambroz, Nate Schmidt and Sam Warning also scored goals for Minnesota, which had lost each of its last two meetings to the Eagles in NCAA Tournament play (the Eagles defeated the Gophers, 5-2, in late March of the 2008 national tournament in Worcester).

The Gophers scored three times on their first four power-play opportunities to take a 3-0 lead.