January 4, 2008

Dartmouth Upended at Princeton

Boxscore

PRINCETON, N.J. -- With five combined goals scored in the final stanza of play, the Princeton Tigers (7-8, 5-4 ECAC) held off a hard charging Dartmouth (5-6-1, 2-5-1 ECAC) men's hockey team to take a 5-2 victory in front of a nationally televised audience on Friday afternoon in Hobey Baker Rink.

The Big Green spotted the Tigers a 1-0 lead at 11:55 in the first. Cam MacIntyre passed across the front of the net to a waiting Dan Bartlett who slipped the puck behind Dartmouth netminder Mike Devine (Orchard Park, N.Y.). Princeton ended the period outshooting Dartmouth, 12-7.

The Tigers went up by two midway through the second off a goal reminiscent of the first when Kevin Lohry pulled Devine to the side and passed in front to a waiting Landis Stankievech. Princeton made it 3-0 off a goal by Mike Kramer at 9:06 in the third.

Dartmouth finally got on the board when Joe Gaudet (Etna, N.H.) took a pass up top from linemate Rob Smith (Brooks, Alta.) at 9:54 to make it 2-1.

With the Big Green on its heels, Princeton's Brett Wilson stopped whatever momentum Dartmouth had mustered with his fifth goal of the season at 12:58.

Kyle Reeds (St. Louis, Mo.) responded with just the third goal of his career when rookie Joe Stejskal (Grand Rapids, Minn.) pulled Princeton goalie Zane Kalemba out of the net, passing down to Reeds who went behind Kalemba for the score. The assist was Stejskal's first collegiate point. Nick Johnson (Calgary, Alta.) also picked up a point.

With matching penalties in the final 2:40 of play, Dartmouth pulled Devine for the extra attacker. With less than :30 left in the penalties the Big Green had been able to keep the Tigers from potting the empty net strike but Kyle Hagel was not to be denied as he put the final score on the board for the Tigers.

Princeton ended with 45 shots on net, compared to Dartmouth's 24. The Tigers 45 shots were the most the Big Green has given up this year.

Devine ended the game with 40 saves while Kalemba had 22.

Dartmouth will be back in action on Sunday, Jan. 6 at Quinnipiac. Game time is set for 3 p.m. as it will be broadcast on NESN.