With a pair of specialty-team goals and another strong defensive effort, highlighted by the play of junior goaltender Paul Karpowich (Thunder Bay, ONT), the Clarkson University Hockey team defeated Lake Superior State 2-1 in the second round of the Denver Cup at Magness Arena in Colorado on Saturday evening.

The Golden Knights, who have won three of their last four games, improved their overall record to 7-5-2. In Denver Cup first-round action on Friday, Clarkson was edged by Air Force, 2-1. With a 2-2-1 ECAC Hockey mark, the Green and Gold return to league play this coming weekend with games at Princeton and Quinnipiac.

After a scoreless first period against Lake Superior State, Clarkson got the key first goal when the Knights’ top-rated penalty-killing unit struck for the team’s fourth shorthanded marker of the season, and second of the weekend, early in the second stanza.

Junior assistant captain Jake Morley (Ogdensburg, NY) picked up a loose puck that was misplayed by Lake Superior’s goaltender along the goal line and knocked in his fourth goal of the season and second shorthanded tally at 4:54. Clarkson is 7-0-2 when scoring first this season.

The Lakers (5-9-2) tied the game at 8:43 of the third with Nick McParland’s tally shortly after a Lake Superior power-play had ended. Less than four minutes later, however, Clarkson regained the lead when the Knights’ much maligned power-play connected.

At 12:37, freshman Allan McPherson (Kinburn, ONT) finished off assists from senior defenseman Mark Borowiecki (Kanata, ONT) and rookie rearguard David Pratt (Napanee, ONT) with a shot under the crossbar for his third collegiate goal and second game-winner, snapping Clarkson’s 0-of-14 drought with the man-advantage. Clarkson is now 4-of-54, 7.4% on the power play for the season.

With 63 seconds remaining in regulation, Lake Superior went on its fifth power play of the contest, and also pulled its goaltender for a 6-on-4 advantage in the final minute. Clarkson, however, which boasts the best penalty-kill in the nation (70-77, 90.9%), shut down the Lakers’ final attack with Karpowich making two spectacular saves at the end to preserve the one-goal victory.

Both teams had 31 shots on goal, but Karpowich picked up the win by making 10 first-period saves, 13 stops in the second and eight more in the final frame for a 30-save outing.