HAMILTON – Fourth-seeded Colgate scored twice in the third period to break a 1-1 tie and defeat fifth-seeded Dartmouth, 3-1, in game one of a best-of three ECAC Hockey Championship quarterfinal round series Friday at Starr Rink.
With the two teams deadlocked heading to the final period, senior John Lidgett gave the Raiders a 2-1 lead when he scored his eighth goal of the season at the 5:13 mark. Junior Darcy Murphy added an insurance marker on an empty-net tally with nine seconds on the clock to determine the final margin.
After a scoreless first period, the two teams traded goals during a 14-second span in the second. Jack Barre staked the Big Green to a 1-0 lead at the 16:24 mark, only to see junior Tylor Spink net his seventh of the season on the next shift to bring the Raiders level and set up the dramatic final frame.
Sophomore Charlie Finn made 21 saves in goal for Colgate while James Kruger turned aside 22 shots for Dartmouth.
Bottom Line
No. 4 Colgate 3, No. 5 Dartmouth 1
Won-Lost Records
– Colgate improved to 20-11-4 overall as it took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. The Raiders also extended their unbeaten streak to six games (5-0-1).
– Dartmouth dipped to 17-11-4 on the season with the setback in the series opener.
How It Happened
– Following a scoreless first period, Dartmouth took a 1-0 lead at the 16:24 mark of the second when Barre knocked home a rebound on a shot from Charlie Mosey for his sixth goal of the season. Andy Simpson earned a secondary assist on the play.
– Tylor Spink tied the game at 1-1 just 14 seconds later, wiring a shot from the middle of the slot past the glove the Kruger and under the cross bar for his seventh goal of the season. Junior Tyson Spink was credited with a primary assist while sophomore Jake Kulevich picked up the secondary helper on the goal that came with 16:38 gone in the middle frame.
– Lidgett notched the eventual game-winning goal at the 5:13 mark of the third period, working a give-and-go play with senior Daniel Gentzler on the left side of the Dartmouth zone before firing a shot high to the glove side of Kruger for his seventh goal of the season.
– Murphy closed out the scoring with nine seconds remaining in the contest, playing a puck from just in front of the Colgate bench into an empty Dartmouth net for his eighth goal of the season. Kulevich earned his second assist of the evening on the insurance marker.
Inside The Box Score
– Colgate held a 25-22 shot advantage in the contest. The Raiders held the edge in the first (9-7) and third (10-7) periods, while the Big Green posted an 8-6 margin in the middle frame.
– Both teams were held without a power-play goal as Dartmouth was 0-for-4 while Colgate was 0-for-3 with the man-advantage.
– Dartmouth posted a 29-28 edge in faceoffs for the contest. Tylor Spink was 14-of-24 at the dot to lead the Raiders.
– Three players – Lidgett, Tylor Spink and Murphy each tallied a team-best four shots while Ryan Bullock and Eric Robinson posted four shots each to lead the Big Green.
Key Raider Info
– Lidgett tallied his third goal of the season and his second game-winning goal
against the Big Green in exactly a month with his game-winning tally in the third period.
– Kulevich recorded multiple points for the first time in his career with his two assists.
– Tyson Spink became the first Colgate player to reach the 30-point plateau this season as his assist on brother Tylor’s second-period strike gave him exactly 30 points this season (14 G/ 16 A).
– Finn allowed one goal or fewer for the 12th time this season and remained undefeated when doing so (12-0-0).
– Senior defensemen Brandon Corcoran played in his 100th game in a Colgate uniform on Friday.
– Senior Spiro Goulakos made his return to the Colgate lineup on Friday after missing 12 games due to a lower-body injury.
‘gate One Timers
– With tonight’s victory, the Raiders reached the 20-win plateau for the second consecutive season and the sixth time under head coach Don Vaughan.
– Colgate improved to 5-7-3 this season when allowing the first goal.
– The Raiders moved to 2-1-1 in 2014-15 when tied after two periods.
– Colgate improved to 32-3-1 since the start of the 2013-14 season and 15-1-0 this year when scoring three or more goals in a game.
– The Raiders moved to 13-0-0 this season when holding their opponent to one goal or less.
– Colgate moved to 10-3-3 in 2014-15 when tied after the first period.
– The Raiders improved to 14-3-3 this season when out-shooting their opponent.
Up Next
– The two teams continue their quarterfinal round series with game two Saturday at Starr Rink. Opening faceoff is set for 7 p.m.
– Tickets are available by calling 315-228-7600 or by visiting Bleedcolgatemaroon.com.
