Playing in its third straight playoff overtime game, theClarkson University Hockey team came up short falling to St. Lawrence 3-2 in Game 1 of an ECAC Hockey quarterfinal series Friday night at Appleton Arena.
The Golden Knights, who stand at 20-14-3, will face off against the Saints (18-13-4) in Game 2 on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. If Clarkson wins the North Country rivals will play again on Sunday in a deciding Game 3. If St. Lawrence wins on Saturday they will advance to the semifinal round of the ECAC Hockey Championship Tournament in Lake Placid on March 18.
St. Lawrence, which enjoyed a bye last weekend as the fourth seed, overcame a 2-1 deficit after 40 minutes to win the game. The Saints tied the game early in the third with a goal by Jacob Pritchard during a scramble in front of senior goaltender Greg Lewis at 6:59 and then won it at 8:12 of the extra session with Brian Ward scoring on a 3-on-1.
In a fast paced first period the teams were tied 1-1 after 20 minutes with Clarkson doubling up St. Lawrence in shots 14-7.
The Saints had an excellent opportunity to take a quick lead when a shot from the point hit the post, got behind Lewis and settled on the goal line just 1:40 into the game before junior defenseman James de Haas clear it out of the crease. St. Lawrence did get on the scoreboard first with a goal off a deflection in front by Alexander Dahl at 4:57.
At 14:14, the Knights made it 1-1 when junior Perry D’Arrisso took a pass out of the corner from seniorPat Megannety and fired in a quick shot from the right circle for his sixth goal of the season. de Haas also assisted.
Clarkson controlled most of the second period and took the lead midway through the stanza, right after a Clarkson penalty expired. Sophomore Nic Pierog put the Knights on top when he jumped out of the penalty box, took a pass at center ice from classmate, defenseman Kelly Summers and finished off a breakaway with a backhand shot in close for his fifth goal of the season at 10:41.
The Saints, who ended up with a 10-8 edge in shots for the period, got some life when they went on the power play late in the stanza.
St. Lawrence failed to capitalize on the man-advantage, but tied the game early in the third to force overtime.
Clarkson held a 42-33 advantage in shots. Making his 19th straight start in the Clarkson crease Lewis posted 30 saves. Kyle Hayton made 40 stops in the St. Lawrence net.
Clarkson went scoreless on its lone power play and killed off all three of the Saints’ man-advantage opportunities.
