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Atkinson's tally topples Badgers

Like every college hockey coach, Boston College's Jerry York emphasizes the importance of special teams.

Last night, during the top-ranked Eagles season opener against Wisconsin - before which the school's NCAA 2008 national championship banner was hoisted to the Conte Forum rafters - BC scored two power-play goals and two shorthanded strikes, but it was an even-strength tally by freshman center Cam Atkinson with 6:30 remaining that secured a 5-4 win in front of a sold-out crowd of 7,884.

"I was pleased with our effort, considering it was our first game and I see reason to be optimistic," said York. "Plus, I think the team we played is a very, very good club. I thought our special teams were certainly key. Ironically, the winner was the even-strength goal."

Fourteenth-ranked Wisconsin took the lead early. Right wing Patrick Johnson collected the rebound of a Jake Gardiner shot and buried it past goalie John Muse from the slot at 2:59. The Eagles pulled even exactly three minutes later on the man advantage. Sophomore Brian Gibbons got the first of his two goals when he converted from just outside the right post, beating netminder Shane Connelly.

In the early part of the second period, BC took its first lead. With Benn Ferriero off for hooking, defenseman Tim Filangieri started an odd-man rush that had Matt Price racing up the ice to the left of Matt Lombardi. Lombardi slid a pass across the slot for Price, who beat Connelly at 4:18.

But the see-saw battle continued at 5:33 with Jordy Murray burying a backhander past Muse and it was all square at 2. Muse gave up a softie at 8:53, putting the Badgers up, 3-2. Wisconsin defenseman Eric Springer dumped the puck from the left point trying to generate something. It generated more than he expected as it sailed past Muse.

At 13:08, though, it was all even again with Brock Bradford netting a power-play tally with a shot from deep in the left circle. Bradford, who had six shots on net, was limited to just five games last season because of a broken left humerus, which he suffered not once but twice.

Ben Street finished off a Badger three-on-two break at 1:20 of the third, taking a pass from defenseman Cody Goloubef and beating Muse from the bottom of the right circle. But the Eagles rallied at 3:43 to tie it at 4-4. With Nick Petrecki off for high sticking, Gibbons scored his second goal on a shorthanded breakaway, poking the puck under Connelly from the edge of the crease.

Atkinson provided the winner when he beat Connelly with a backhander inside the far post during a partial two-on-one at 13:30.

"I got a nice pass from Jimmy Hayes," said Atkinson, who is out of Avon Old Farms. "He gave it to me and I just used my speed to get by the defenseman. Before I knew it, the puck was in the back of the net. [Price] was right on top of me so it was pretty cool. It's a dream come true, my first college game. I've been waiting for this opportunity and when it finally came around, I knew that I'd hopefully step it up and I got one through so it was good."

For Bradford, it was a relief to finally be healthy and contributing. Last spring, he served as an unofficial assistant coach but would rather be on the ice.

"All in all, for your first game for your special teams to get four goals is pretty impressive so there's a lot to build on," said Bradford, the Eagles captain. "We feel if we can be a little better five-on-five it's going to give ourselves a better chance to win. There's a lot to build on. It was a little raw out there but there's a lot of time to work on things and just get better from here."