Bobcats Bounce Back in Big Way

Box Score

CAMBRIDGE, MA --  Dan Henningson (Edmonton, Alb.) and Jamie Bates (Toronto, Ont.) scored twice and Ben Nelson (Spokane, Wash.) added a goal and four assists as Quinnipiac answered an 11-0 drubbing by Harvard in the first game of the ECAC Hockey Quarterfinals with a convincing 7-4 win over the Crimson to even the series, 1-1. Both teams square off on Sunday night for the third and deciding game of the series.

Bud Fisher (Peterborough, Ont.) stopped 41 shots in goal, including an incredible 21 saves in the third period, to help Quinnipiac to their first win at the Bright Hockey Center all-time, snapping an 0-4 stretch dating back to 2005. Fisher's save total is his highest of the year, and second most career saves since she stopped 43 against Robert Morris in 2006.

The win pushes Quinnipiac to 20-14-4 on the season, marking the fourth consecutive year and ninth time in the last 10 years that Quinnipiac has reached the 20-win plateau.

Henningson and Nelson each had a hand in two of Quinnipiac's first three goals. The first period saw five goals scored between the two teams as they headed to the first intermission with the visitors leading, 3-2.

The Bobcats scored their first goal at the 2:43 mark of the first period. The Bobcats controlled the puck in Harvard's defensive zone from the first drop of the puck, putting early pressure on Harvard's Kyle Richter. Quinnipiac's first three rushes on net were stopped by the sophomore goalie before Nelson took a shot on goal that was rebounded by Dan Henninson. Henningson blasted a shot from the point that was blocked but senior captain Jamie Bates (Toronto, Ont.) was there top home the rebound and give Quinnipiac a 1-0 lead.

Nelson gave the Bobcats a 2-0 lead at the 8:10 mark of the first period. Eric Lampe (Madison, Wisc.) passed behind the Quinnipiac net to freshman Isak Tranvik (Robbinsdale, Minn.) who then kicked it out to Nelson waiting out in front of the Crimson net. Nelson's shot clanged off the nearside post and rang home to give Quinnipiac the early 2-0 lead.

At the 13:10 mark, Harvard cut the Quinnipiac lead in half when Pier-Olivier Michaud scored on a wrist shot from the point. Michaud was assisted on the play by Dave Watters. Michaud's goal was his fourth of the season all coming against Quinnipiac. Watters added his sixth point of the quarterfinals on the assist.

Quinnipiac pushed their lead back to two goals when Henningson netted his second goal of the season. Nelson's shot on goal was blocked by Richter before Bates got the rebound from out in front and dropped it back to Henningson. Henningson's black beat Richter glove side to give Quinnipiac a 3-1 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the first stanza.

Harvard was quick to respond, scoring with 1;41 remaining in the period. Doug Rogers handled the puck at the point, finding Mike Taylor to the left of the Quinnipiac goal. Taylor then passed across the crease to Jon Pelle whose one-timer beat Fisher to bring the Crimson within one.

Bates scored again just 19 seconds into the second period. Zach Hansen (White Bear Lake, Minn.) passed the puck out to Henningson at the point. His blast was on goal but it was Bates' deflection of the shot that put the puck past Richter to give Quinnipiac a 4-2 lead. Henningson then scored his second goal of the game at the 2:54 mark when the Bobcats had a 5-on-3 opportunity. Brandon Wong (Victoria, B.C.) passed from the point to Nelson on the right flank. Nelson then passed the puck back out to the point to Henningson, whose blast found the back of the net to give Quinnipiac a 5-2 lead. Henningson's goal was also Quinnipiac's fourth power play goal of the game.

Harvard pulled to within two goals at the 11:44 mark when Alex Meintel scored on a slap shot past Fisher to make the score 5-3 with just over eight minutes to play in the second frame. Linemates Michaud and Watters picked up assists on the play.

Lampe scored with 26 seconds remaining in the second period when the Bobcats broke up an attempted Harvard clear with a man down. Lampe took off down the ice on the breakaway, beating the Harvard defense on a 1-on-2 situation and buried the puck past Richter on a breakaway to give the Bobcats a 6-3 lead.

Harvard pulled within two goals at the 12:25 marker of the third period when Watters chipped the puck over to Michaud who got it to Meintel on the breakaway. Meintel's blast from just outside the left face-off circle beat Fisher top shelf, stick side.

Andrew Meyer would add an empty net goal with 27 seconds remaining in regulation to close out Quinnipiac's 7-4 win over Harvard.

The win by Quinnipiac forces a third game in the ECAC Hockey Quarterfinals, set for Sunday, March 16 at 7 p.m. at the Bright Hockey Center in Cambridge, Mass. The winner will advance to the ECAC Hockey Semifinals in Albany, N.Y.