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A Gerbe power-play goal two minutes later made it 2-0. His best play of the night, though, might have been his backhand -- almost no-look -- pass to teammate Ben Smith to set up the game's final goal.
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"As much respect that I have for Kevin Porter, if they named the Hobey Baker (winner) after this weekend they may have changed their mind," Jackson said. "(Gerbe) was a tremendous player during the weekend and on the biggest stage. ... God bless the small guy because he plays fearless."
The Hobey might have been a joke. Now we'll see if the NHL is a joke. It is if it doesn't give the Frozen Four's most outstanding player a chance. Gerbe was drafted three years ago, in the fifth round by the Buffalo Sabres. But there remains doubt -- seemingly everywhere but here -- as to whether he could survive in the league because of his size.
"Any player of Nathan Gerbe's ability who gets an opportunity and stays healthy in today's NHL will be able to play in the league," said Bob Norton, the former New Hampshire coach and a TV analyst. "Eight years ago he'd have struggled."
Eight years ago, the NHL was rivaling soccer for the snore factor. A 2-1 game was a scoring explosion. Today, the reconstituted NHL rewards players like Gerbe. Small, quick players have room to skate. Martin St. Louis, anyone?
Gerbe's inspiration is former BC player Brian Gionta. The 5-foot-7, 175-pound forward scored 48 goals two seasons ago for the New Jersey Devils.
"He might even be quicker than Brian," Jackson said of Gerbe.
What is about these BC heroes? There's Gerbe, Gionta, Doug Flutie and don't forget Michael Adams, who at 5-10, lasted 11 years in the NBA.
"Obviously I'm not big, so I'm not going to go plowing someone over," Gerbe said, "but I still finish checks and bug people out there."
Bug, annoy, dispirit. Gerbe did all three when he assisted on the insurance goal to make it 4-1. Notre Dame's Kyle Lawson seemingly had scored 35 seconds earlier to cut the lead to 3-2. But the video replay official ruled -- wrongly, it seemed -- that Lawson used a distinct kicking motion to direct the puck into the net.
There was nothing distinct about Lawson's attempt to corral the puck in his skates. It should have been a goal, but any controversy melted away seconds later. Gerbe passed to Smith, who scored after his shot deflected off an Irish defenseman.
Would the Notre Dame goal have made any difference? It doesn't seem likely with Gerbe playing at a level much higher than 5-5.
It is significant that, before Gerbe, the last player to score five goals in the Frozen Four was Boston University's Dave Silk in 1977. Silk went on to be part of a little thing called "The Miracle on Ice" with the U.S. Olympic team in 1980.
Is another miracle waiting inside that size small jersey?
"Nathan? I'm sure he can play in the league," Smith said. "I hope it's not anytime soon."
Gerbe says he hasn't given any thought to the pros. There's a national championship to defend next season in a city that doesn't need another reason to drink. Boston is getting drunk with champions.
God bless the small guy because, for him, the game is too fun and, for now, so easy to dominate.
"These memories are going to be footprints in each other's hearts forever," Gerbe said, with the national championship trophy looming next to him. "It's a great feeling. We'd rather hold this than the Hobey."
