Clarkson’s unbeaten streak over ECAC Hockey foes came to an end on Saturday night as Colgate outdueled the Golden Knights in Game 2 of the league’s quarterfinal series, winning 4-3 before a crowd of 2,465 at Cheel Arena. The Raiders, who ended Clarkson’s home unbeaten streak at 23 games (18-0-5), will face-off against the conference regular season champions in the deciding Game 3 of the series on Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Ranked 7th in the nation, Clarkson, which won Game 1 on Friday, 1-0, owns a 21-11-4 overall record. The 8th seed in the ECAC Hockey playoffs, Colgate improves to 17-16-6.
Sophomore David McIntyre scored the Raiders’ last two goals to snap a six game winless stretch (0-2-4) against the Knights. Clarkson battled back three times from one-goal deficits to force a tie, but McIntyre put Colgate ahead for good with his 13th goal of the season just 1:58 into the third period, finishing off a 2-on-1 rush with freshman Brian Day.
After combining for just three goals in their first three meetings this season, Clarkson and Colgate put up two each in the first period on Saturday night.
Shut out by Clarkson’s senior goaltender David Leggio over the past 112 minutes entering the game, the Raiders wasted little time in solving last season’s Ken Dryden Award winner, scoring on their first shot just 4:18 into the opening frame. Junior Tom Riley took a soft pass through the crease by Day and slid a shot along the ice past Leggio for his ninth goal of the season.
Just over four minutes later, senior Nick Dodge evened the score seconds after a Clarkson power play ended. Stationed at the side of the net, the Knights’ captain knocked in his 12th goal of the year, finishing off assists from sophomore Matt Beca and senior Steve Zalewski at 8:25.
Less than a minute later, Colgate’s leading scorer, senior Tyler Burton took three whacks at the puck in close, but Leggio stoned the attempts to keep the score at 1-1.
The Raiders kept up the pressure, forced a turnover in the Clarkson end and took a 2-1 lead at 14:12 when senior Ethan Cox converted on a shot from the slot after taking a pass from the wing by classmate Dustin Gillanders.
With less than four minutes remaining in the period, Clarkson tied it again with senior David Cayer’s ninth goal of the season at 16:17. Dodge set up the goal after he collected his own rebound off a shot in close and slid a pass back into the slot from the end boards. Freshman Brandon DeFazio also assisted.
The teams continued their offensive flurry in the middle frame with each putting their third goal on the scoreboard.
Colgate jumped ahead 3-2 at 9:44 as McIntyre converted off a pass from Day, lifting a shot underneath the crossbar. Clarkson, however, came back once again to tie it.
Zalewski, ECAC Hockey’s leading goal scorer, tallied his 21st of the season at 12:06, finishing on a pass from behind the net from Beca to make it 3-3 through 40 minutes. Junior defenseman Tyrell Mason started the play with a long pass out of the Knights’ zone.
Colgate out shot Clarkson 27-24. Leggio finished with 23 saves, including 12 in the second period. Senior Mark Dekanich posted 21 saves, seven in each period, for the Raiders.
Clarkson was 0-of-1 on the power play while Colgate went scoreless in its two man-advantage opportunities.
