In the final game played at the Northford Ice Pavilion, the Quinnipiac Bobcats came away with a 5-1 win, over the Brown Bears Friday evening.
“It was a nice win,” said Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold. “Our last game here and we used the home ice advantage.”
It was a special night, in it being the final game before the Bobcats (10-6-4, 7-3-3 ECACHL) move into their new home, the TD BankNorth Sports Center, they wore their gold third jerseys for the first time this season, and defenseman Reid Cashman registered his 100th career assist.
“It was a fun night,” said Pecknold. “The kids love wearing the gold jerseys.”
The Bobcats came out flying after losing their last two games at home, with three goals in the first seven minutes all from the line of Brandon Wong, Greg Holt, and Jean-Marc Beaudoin.
“The Wong line was good tonight,” said Pecknold. “Their game preparation was excellent and they played with confidence.”
Wong got his scoring touch back, registering a point of all three of those goals.
Wong tallied the first marker on a one timer in the slot when he received a pass from Holt behind the net, to make it 1-0.
The Bobcats extended the lead when Wong picked up a loose rebound in the crease on a Jamie Bates’ shot from the point. Brown’s Dan Rosen was able to make the initial save but could not find the loose puck at his feet.
With Holt in the box serving a hooking penalty, Beaudoin recorded his third goal of the season, shorthanded. Wong picked off a lazy pass and raced down the ice looking for the hat trick, but clanked the puck off the post; Beaudoin was trailing and picked up the rebound to put it past Rosen for the three goal lead at 7:09 of the first.
In the second period, there was no scoring but Quinnipiac dominated the play with 19 shots on Rosen, but he came up with some big stops to keep the Bears (7-6-3, 3-5-1 ECACHL) in the game.
Early in the third, Brown was able to cut the deficit when Ryan Garbutt picked up a loose puck behind the net and wrapped the puck around the net and under the pad of Quinnipiac’s Bud Fisher.
Other then that goal, Fisher played very well and was able to see the pucks that were put on net.
“Fisher played great tonight,” said Pecknold. “He’s maturing, has been much better on the penalty kill, and what the opposing teams options are.”
For over five minutes in the third, Brown was on a five-on-three penalty kill and the Bobcats capitalized with two goals.
Ben Nelson recorded his sixth of the season, and line mate Jamie Bates registered his eight. On the two goals, Cashman registered his 100th and 101st career assists.
Fisher made 27 saves in the win, while Rosen made 34 in the loss, in the final game at the Northford Ice Pavilion.
Quinnipiac will travel to Yale tomorrow for their I-91 interstate rivalry.
Quinnipiac’s next home game will be at the TD BankNorth Sports Center, January 28th against the Holy Cross Crusaders.
