HAMILTON – In a flurry of second period scoring, the Colgate men's hockey program was able to answer each of No. 20 Dartmouth's goals for a 3-3 overtime tie on Saturday night at Class of 1965 Arena.
The Raider offense was ready for retribution in the second period as
Paul McAvoy tallied a pair of goals and
Ben Sharf sealed the game-tying tally, as overtime wasn't enough to determine a winner.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams took to the ice with fuel on each side, as Colgate looked to follow up its Dec. 7 win against Dartmouth with another, while the Big Green came back with a vengeance after the Raiders' earned their highest-scoring game of the season up in New Hampshire.
The first to crack on the board was Dartmouth though as they gained a lead with a tip at the edge of the crease midway through the opening period. Despite a wraparound look by
Jeff Stewart, the Raiders saw chances but would need more time than the first to light their first lamp.
Really it would only take 20 more seconds though, as
Paul McAvoy evened the board quickly after coming out for the second with some teamwork in front of the crease. However, when Colgate's penalty kill was tested, it proved detrimental as Dartmouth clinched back a one-goal advantage with a crossing pass and rebound touch.
It was again McAvoy who would answer for the Raiders as he capitalized on a turnover in the slot to even the game at 2-2 midway through regulation for the third of five goals that the second period featured.
The nationally ranked opponent again pressured back as it regained a 3-2 advantage on a weird bounce out of the air and over the tender, but for a third time, Colgate was prepared to answer.
Before the period would close,
Ben Sharf came up with a big point behind a gritty rebound to tie the game at 3-3 heading into the third.
The pace began to slow as the teams faced a physical game in the corners with battles for the puck. Colgate drew a late power play advantage, but the horn would sound for extra hockey as the conference rivals headed to overtime.
Dartmouth opened with early chances before Colgate flew down the ice determined to break the tie. The Raiders were once again awarded a power play opportunity in the overtime, but even with the man advantage, the Big Green would withstand the pressure to hold off Colgate through the final horn. Despite extra time, Colgate settled for its second straight 3-3 overtime tie in conference play, ultimately earning three of four league points on the line against Dartmouth this season.
COLGATE SCORING PLAYS
• Period 2 | 00:20 –
Tyler Jeanson picked the puck out of the corner and sent it across open ice to
Griffin Lunn entering the Dartmouth zone. Lunn combined with
Paul McAvoy for a 2-on-1 opportunity and a quick putaway down low to even the game at 1-1.
• Period 2 | 06:36 – At the Dartmouth blue line,
Ben Sharf pressured the defensemen, allowing McAvoy to swoop in. As the Big Green defender looked to backhand a pass across the ice, McAvoy picked the puck off in the slot and sent it top shelf to tie the game for the Raiders a second time at 2-2.
• Period 2 | 14:09 – In a Colgate offensive drive,
Jared Cockrell hit the netminder with a shot that flew out to
Liam Watson-Brawn in the slot. Getting the shot past
Ben Sharf's screen, the senior was then able to slip the rebound under the pads for a 3-3 game.
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
• Behind his second multi-goal game of the season, junior
Paul McAvoy began a two-game point streak with a four-point weekend. Prior to tonight's two goals, the center posted a pair of assists in yesterday's game against Harvard.
• With his seventh goal of the season, senior
Ben Sharf scored the game-tying goal, and his first since at Harvard (Dec. 7).
• Between the pipes sophomore netminder
Andrew Farrier posted his fifth 30-plus save performance of the season, including second straight. After a game-high of 12 saves in the opening period, Farrier tallied 34 on the night, including a pair in overtime.
• Farrier's 34 saves matches his season-high, also earned against Dartmouth (Dec. 7).
• By following up his goal from yesterday with an assist on McAvoy's first tonight, sophomore
Griffin Lunn begins a two-game point streak.
• By assisting on Sharf's tally, freshman
Liam Watson-Brawn recorded his second assist in his last two games played.
• Senior
Jared Cockrell earned an assist in his 100th career game played.
• A well-rounded offense, Colgate now has six different players posting double-digit points.
• Critical in the ECAC Hockey standings, the Raiders earned three of four points against Dartmouth this season.
THE BOTTOM LINE
• Colgate 3, No. 20 Dartmouth 3
RECORD UPDATES
• Colgate holds an 8-10-6 record, and a 6-3-3 mark in ECAC Hockey action.
• No. 20 Dartmouth is 10-6-4 overall on the season and is 7-4-2 in ECAC play.
HEAD COACH DON VAUGHAN'S TAKE
"I'm proud of our guys and the effort they put forward tonight. We had some great efforts out of our defense, and I thought
Jacob Panetta was so good this weekend. His compete meter was on high all weekend.
"
Paul McAvoy was in the zone tonight. He was rewarded for that effort with two great goals. His line just plays the right way. Our guys rallied around each other tonight and it was a great team effort."
UP NEXT
Colgate returns to the road next weekend as it travels to face Princeton and Quinnipiac. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. both Friday, Jan. 31 and Saturday, Feb. 1 in Princeton, N.J. and Hamden, Conn., respectively.
FOLLOW THE RAIDERS
For more information on the Colgate men's hockey program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateMIH and Instagram at colgate_mih.
