February 27, 2009

Tigers Edged at Dartmouth

Boxscore

HANOVER, N.H. -- Scott Fleming's power-play goal late in the first period proved to be enough as Dartmouth edged the sixth-ranked Princeton men's hockey team 2-0 on Friday night at Thompson Arena.

The game was won by Dartmouth on special teams as the Big Green scored on one of its two power-play chances and then held Princeton goalless in six Tiger power-play attempts.

Dartmouth's goal came on its first power-play chance late in the first period. After a failed Princeton clear, Adam Estoclet gained control of the puck along the boards and created some room before sending a cross-ice pass to Fleming on the opposite face-off dot. Fleming double-clutched the pass and the scored on a wrist shot low inside the far post.

From there, the story was goaltending as both Dartmouth netminder Jody O'Neill and Princeton junior goaltender Zane Kalemba kept the offenses at bay until Dartmouth added an empty netter late in the third period from Rob Pritchard. Both goalies saved apparent certain goals in both the second and third periods.

O'Neill finished the game with 33 saves and has not allowed a goal to Princeton all season. Kalemba made 22 saves in the loss. Princeton outshot Dartmouth 33-24.

Junior Cam MacIntyre had six shots in the loss for Princeton, while senior Lee Jubinville added four.

The Tigers drop to 20-8 overall and 14-7 with the loss, while Dartmouth is now 14-11-3 overall and 11-8-2 in the league. Princeton remained second in the ECAC standings, losing two ground though to first-place Yale, which clinched the ECAC regular-season title with its win over Cornell.