CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Despite out-shooting the visiting No. 18 Rensselaer Engineers (15-10-6; 7-4-6 ECAC Hockey), 50-22, the No. 9 Harvard University men’s hockey team (13-8-3; 9-5-3 ECAC Hockey) dropped a 2-1 decision Friday night at the Bright-Landry Hockey Center.
Rensselaer goaltender Jason Kasdorf made 49 saves in the effort, while Merrick Madsenstopped 20 for the Crimson. The 50 shots was the most for Harvard this season, and the first time Harvard has had 50 or more since Dec. 5, 2014 at Princeton when it totaled 55. Harvard also dominated in the face-off circle, winning 38-of-51 draws, highlighted by 12 individual wins by Sean Malone.
Harvard’s offense came out firing immediately, racking up a 9-3 edge in shots on goals through the first half of the opening period. Continued pressure in the Engineers’ defensive zone paid off at 9:22 when Brayden Jaw netted his first goal of the season. After a Wiley Sherman dump into the offensive zone, Luke Esposito skated behind the goal to wrangle the puck and came out the other side of the net, setting up Jaw in the slot for the rip that beat Kasdorf five-hole.
Rensselaer responded just over two minutes later when crashing the net Jake Wood put home a rebound off Phil Hampton’s initial shot that went off the leg pad of Merrick Madsen.
Following the first intermission, Harvard had its second power play when Wood was called for holding at 0:57, but the Crimson were unable to net the go-ahead tally on the man advantage.
The Engineers offense continued to face constant pressure from the Harvard defense, but at 6:57 it was able to tally its second goal of the night. Jared Wilson fired a shot towards the Crimson goal that looked to get tangled in the uniform of Alex Rodriquez before trickling out to Kenny Gillespie in front of the net where he potted it.
Harvard kept pushing, racking up a 34-16 edge in shots at the second intermission, but Kasdorf and the RPI defense did not yield the tying goal through the remainder of the second frame.
The third period was played without a penalty for either team, but Harvard continued to rack up the shots with a 16-6 edge in the frame. Kasdorf also continued to turn away shot after shot though and helped Rensselaer hang on for the 2-1 win, even with Harvard going with six skaters for the final 73 seconds of the contest.
