Riding its longest win streak in over a year, the Clarkson University Hockey team takes plenty of momentum into Tuesday’s North Country tilt against St. Lawrence after winning its fourth straight game on Saturday with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Brown before 1,177 fans at Meehan Auditorium in Providence, RI.
The Golden Knights, who defeated Yale 4-1 in New Haven, CT on Friday, are perfect on the road in ECAC Hockey League play at 4-0 and have improved their overall record to 10-5-1. Clarkson stands in fifth place in the ECACHL at 4-2.
Clarkson’s power-play, which played just a big role in the Knights’ win over Yale (4-of-9) gave the Green and Gold an early boost against Brown. Senior Brodie Rutherglen (Trail, BC), last week’s ECAC co-Player of the Week, tallied his fifth goal of the season, redirecting a shot from the point by senior defenseman Michael Grenzy (Lockport, NY) for a man-advantage marker with 2:41 left in the first period to put the Knights on top. Freshman Matt Beca (Mississauga, ONT) also assisted. Clarkson dominated the opening 20 minutes out shooting the Bears 17-7.
Brown came out strong to start the second, tying it up with a goal by Antonin Roux just 24 seconds in. The Bears had excellent opportunities to take the lead in the middle frame with six power-play opportunities in the stanza, including four straight right after their tying goal. Another strong penalty killing effort, however, and a 17-save effort by junior David Leggio (Williamsville, NY) in the period kept the score at 1-1 through 40 minutes of play.
Coming off a four-point (1-3) outing on Friday night, junior David Cayer (Longueuil, QUE) added to his totals when he connected for his second straight game-winner on a slapshot from the right circle at 3:00 of the third period. Rutherglen and junior captain Nick Dodge (Oakville, ONT) assisted on Cayer’s ninth goal of the season.
Brown pulled its goaltender for the extra attacker with less than two minutes remaining in regulation, but Clarkson behind solid defensive zone play kept the Bears from tying the score.
The Knights out shot Brown 35-29. Leggio finished withy 28 saves as he improved his record to 9-3-1. Clarkson’s penalty kill was perfect for the second straight game, holding the Bears scoreless on all nine of their power plays after killing off all 13 Yale man-advantage opportunities the night before.
