After the first two periods it looked like deja vu all over again. Wisconsin trailing Boston College 1-0 heading into the third period, but unlike 2006 Bucky would not come back to win.
The Eagles would knock in four more goals in the third period to take home the national title. Their second national title in just the last three years.
The experience factor may have been the difference in this game for BC. Almost their entire team had been there before, and their goalie proved again to be a rock in the postseason. Boston College net-minder John Muse has played in eight games in the NCAA tournament...he has won all of them; leading BC to a national title in 2008 as a freshman.
It wasn't just his goaltending that locked up the national title for the Eagles, it was the rest of the team's defense. The Badgers only managed 20 shots on goal against Boston College on Sunday. A small number compaired to the 37 shots by the Badgers against RIT.
Defense proved to be the difference for the Eagles. Wisconsin came into the national championship as the top scoring team in the NCAA with 171 goals this season. While Wisconsin goaltender Scott Gudmandson saved 21 shots, one more than Muse, three found the back of the net (one was empty net).
Wisconsin was not without it's own opportunities, but the Badgers were unable to cash in. In the second period Michael Davies while on a break-away had the puck bounce over his stick. At the time the Eagles lead was just one goal, and a goal by Davies could have perhaps made it a different outcome for Wisconsin.
Boston College looked to be the more opportunistic of the two teams. Charging the net, making shots, and playing hard defense. Not saying that Wisconsin didn't play like with intensity, but the Eagles played with more. They had the experience where it mattered, they got the breaks, and they made the plays. Add all of that up and you get one thing...a national champion.
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