Third Period Rally Lifts Clarkson Past Princeton

Box Score

POTSDAM, NY -- No. 9 Clarkson scored twice in the third period to come from behind and defeat the 12th-ranked Princeton men's hockey team on Friday night at Cheel Arena. The battle of the league's top two teams lived up to its billing as the teams traded the lead three times and no team led by more than a goal.

After a short time of feeling each other out, both teams picked up the play in the second half of the first period. Clarkson broke through with the game's first goal at 13:31 when Steve Zalewski found Matt Beca alone at the far post for his ninth goal of the season. Clarkson couldn't seize the momentum though as the Golden Knights were whistled for a quick penalty after the goal.

On that power play, Princeton evened the score at 15:19 when freshman Matt Arhontas scored his fifth goal of the season when re redirected a shot from sophomore Dan Bartlett in front of the goal. Freshman Cam Ritchie also had an assist on the power play goal.

Princeton was then whistled for a penalty and Clarkson looked to bounce back, but the Tigers scored shorthanded to have a 2-1 lead after a period of play. Junior Lee Jubinville, the ECAC's leading scorer, blocked a dump-in attempt and went the other way on a breakaway, shooting high on the glove side to beat Clarkson goaltender David Leggio and take a 2-1 lead. The goal was his 11th of the season.

Princeton controlled play for much of the second period, but found itself tied at 2-2 when Zalewski scored at 17:26 on a shot that changed direction on its way to the net. Princeton quickly answered though as senior Mike Moore scored his fourth goal of the season in the final minute of the period on the power play. Junior Brett Wilson carried the puck into the Clarkson zone and dropped it off for sophomore Cam MacIntyre. He skated to one the points, then fed the puck across to Moore, who took a wrist shot across the grain for the go-ahead goal at 19:01 of the second period.

Clarkson came out flying to start the third and Phil Paquet knotted the score at 1:12 when he one-timed Lauri Tuohimaa's pass by Princeton sophomore netminder Zane Kalemba. The game was tied from there until the Golden Knights went ahead on the power play at 11:43. After an offensive zone faceoff win, Grant Clitsome took a point shot that changed directions twice before Nick Dodge tipped it through the legs of Kalemba.

Princeton pulled Kalemba late and maintained pressure in the Clarkson zone but could not beat Leggio for a fourth time and Clarkson took the 4-3 win. The win clinched the ECAC Hockey regular season title for the Golden Knights, while Princeton has locked up a second place finish. Princeton falls to 17-11 overall and 14-7 in the league, while Clarkson is now 19-10-4 overall and 14-4-3 in the league.

Kalemba made 23 saves in the loss, while Leggio stopped 26 shots. Princeton outshot Clarkson 29-27.

Princeton completes the regular season tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at St. Lawrence. The game can be heard live on WPRB 103.3 FM and on GoPrincetonTigers.com.