CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The No. 12 Harvard University men’s hockey team scored the final seven goals in defeating Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 8-2, in Game 2 of the ECAC Hockey Quarterfinals, on Saturday at Bright-Landry Hockey Center. With the win, the Crimson improve to 18-9-4 and advance the conference Semifinals next weekend. The Engineers finish the season at 18-15-7.
A four-goal flurry, split two each way, highlighted the first period of play. Jake Horton opened the scoring for the Crimson at 15:02, but RPI junior Riley Bourbonnaisanswered at 16:21.
Freshman Jesper Ohrvall gave Rensselaer a brief 2-1 lead, 23 seconds later, but Viktor Dombrovskiy netted the equalizer at 17:43.
Harvard took the lead back for good at 1:35 of the second, as Sean Malone finished off his 10th of the season, from Brayden Jaw and Desmond Bergin.
Clay Anderson made it a 4-2 game midway through the second period, from Colin Blackwell and Malone. The Crimson took that lead to the second intermission.
Jimmy Vesey potted a pair of unassisted tallies to open the third, including one just 15 seconds into the frame. Jaw and Ryan Donato capped the scoring for the hosts, with Michael Floodstrand earning an assist on each.
RPI freshman netminder Cam Hackett (6-3-2) made 30 saves, while Merrick Madsen had 37 at the other end of the ice.
The Engineers held a 39-38 edge in shots, while going 0 for 1 on the power play. Harvard was 1 for 5 on the man advantage.
