Dartmouth Drops Barnburner to Quinnipiac

Box Score

Hamden, CT -- Dartmouth dropped its second league game of the weekend, losing, 5-3, to Quinnipiac on Sunday afternoon at the TD Banknorth Sports Center. The Big Green (5-7-1, 2-6-1) pulled ahead quickly with two quick goals in the first period but it was back-and-forth for the rest of the contest before the Bobcats (11-5-3, 4-3-3) pulled ahead late in the final period to take the victory.

The final six minutes of the opening period had three goals being scored as Dartmouth took a 2-1 lead into the first break. Connor Shields (Edmonton, Alta.) put his team on top at 5:55 in the first. As both teams were skating with four players Will Boardman (Brattleboro, Vt.) got the puck behind the Dartmouth net passing up to Shields who beat the Quinnipiac defenders to one-time the puck over netminder Pat McGann's left shoulder.

Rob Pritchard (Burnaby, B.C.) struck just :47 seconds later on a power play goal. Pressure on McGann had Evan Stephens (Bessemer, Mich.) passing down to Nick Johnson (Calgary, Alta.) from the point. Johnson took a shot that Pritchard was able to redirect through McGann's legs for the quick 2-0 lead.

Quinnipiac got one back on its own power play goal at 16:49. J.T. Wyman (Wayzata, Minn.) had just gone to the box when the Bobcats brought the puck down quickly as Ben Nelson shot hard, putting the puck past Mike Devine (Orchard Park, N.Y.). The goal was just the sixth power play strike the Big Green has given up this season.

The Bobcats tied the game at 2-2 quickly into the second period. Eric Lampe took advantage of a Dartmouth turnover as he combined with Jamie Bates and Dan Henningson for a goal that was shot through traffic in front of Devine at 17:48.

Dartmouth had its first extra-man chance of the second at 15:59 but it was the home team that almost capitalized on the opportunity as Lampe stole the puck from Stephens at center ice skating in on Devine. The Dartmouth netminder made the kick save as Lampe was assessed a penalty to give the Big Green another power play. The two teams entered the second break still tied at two.

Midway through, Devine stuffed two terrific Quinnipiac opportunities as Wyman also had a chance to pull his team ahead but was unable to convert on the other end.

Adam Estoclet (Orono, Minn.) did get the go-ahead at 16:08 as the freshman potted his second goal of the season. John Gibson (Okotoks, Alta.) passed to Estoclet in front as the Dartmouth rookie slid the puck in behind as McGann thought he had made the save.

The Bobcats almost tied the contest up for a second time as Devine came out of the net to make a save and was brought down. With the net open Boardman came in to make a defensive save, preventing a goal.

The tying strike came at 12:49 as the Big Green gave up its second power play goal of the night. Jean-Marc Beaudoin shot down as Devine made the initial save. The rebound came out to Brandon Wong who put the puck back, sliding it past a prone Devine.

Quinnipiac pulled ahead for the first time of the contest off a laser shot by Beaudoin at 9:15. The sophomore came in, firing on Devine from the left circle as the puck rang off the left post and into the back of the net. With Devine out of the net the Bobcats rang two off the post before Beaudoin finally converted with :31 left in the contest.

Devine (4-7-1) finished with 31 saves while McGann (1-1-0) playing in just his second game of the season picked up his first win of the season making 20 saves.

The Big Green will be back in action next weekend, coming home for the first time since Nov. 24. Dartmouth will play host to Clarkson on Friday, Jan. 11 at 7:00 pm and then St. Lawrence on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 5:00 pm. That game will be televised live on ESPNU.