Local product Benn Ferriero has been up and down between the NHL and AHL these last few seasons, but on Saturday, he was right where he wanted to be.

Ferriero, who hails from Essex and played his college hockey at Boston College, was called up Thursday, and on Saturday scored the game-winning goal against the team he grew up cheering for. With the game tied in the third period thanks to goals from Milan Lucic and Tyler Seguin 29 seconds apart, Ferriero took a rebound from a Jim Vandermeer shot and maneuvered around Tim Thomas to make it a 3-2 game. It was his first goal of the season and eighth career goal.

Playing at BC gave him plenty of experience of skating on the Garden ice in the Beanpot and other tournaments, and he also faced the Bruins last February. Still, this Garden experience was different.

“I played here about four times a year through college and I guess I’m used to it. It’s obviously a big difference playing against the Bruins then playing against BU or one of the other teams,” he said after the game.

After the game, Ferriero recalled his time as a youngster rooting on the Bruins, and how he now gets to skate for the same team as a Bruin he long admired.

“I grew up in Boston. I was a Joe Thornton fan growing up when I was younger and through college NESN is the big sports network around here,” Ferriero said. “We see them every night they play at home, every night they play on the road. So I’ve seen a lot, but I’m just happy to get out here and play.”