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Princeton University Athletics
Golden opportunity slips away
March 11, 2000 | Men's Ice Hockey
March 10, 2000
POTSDAM, N.Y. - It wouldn't seem like an ECAC hockey postseason unless Princeton and Clarkson were playing. Meeting for the fourth consecutive year and fifth time in the last six seasons, this would be the first quarterfinal playoff series between the two.
Lake Placid had been the site for prior games, not Potsdam, where the Golden Knights have won 15 straight playoff contests and 23 of 25 games against the Tigers.
Those numbers became more staggering after fifth-seeded Clarkson rallied from a two-goal, first-period deficit to defeat six-seed Princeton 3-2 in the first game of the best-of-three series at Cheel Arena.
If the Tigers want to advance to Lake Placid for the fourth consecutive year, they must do something that no other team has accomplished: win a postseason game in Potsdam -- and then win again.
Clarkson sophomore Matt Poapst scored the game-winner just more than a minute into the third period. While on his back, Poapst swatted Yan Turgeon's rebound past Tiger goalie Dave Stathos, which gave the Golden Knights a 3-2 lead that they would hold. Princeton, which had won in Potsdam in 1998 and 1989, opened with a strong first period. Sophomore Dave Bennett scored on Princeton's first shot of the game at 1:45 of the first period. David Del Monte centered the puck from behind the net to Bennett, who beat Clarkson freshman goalie Karl Mattson from the top of the crease. Benoit Morin also collected an assist on Bennett's fourth goal of the year.
While on the power play, junior Shane Campbell won the face off in the Clarkson zone and beat Mattson as the Tigers took a 2-0 lead at 16:26 of the first period. It was Campbell's ninth goal of the season as the Tigers held a 14-6 advantage in shots.
The second period was a contradiction of the first. Clarkson enjoyed a two-goal period and a 13-5 edge in shots. Murray Kuntz got the Knights going with a power-play goal at 12:35 to make it 2-1. Four minutes later Erik Cole, Clarkson's leading scorer, tied the game when he scored his 18th of the year and 51st of his career.
Poapst's tally to begin the third period gave Clarkson its 16th straight home playoff win and a 1-0 lead in the series.
"We played hard all night, we just couldn't come up with that one shot," coach Don Cahoon said after the game. "All the penalties in the second period hurt us. They started to win the grind after that."
Stathos stopped 26 shots, while Mattson made 24 saves. Clarkson improved to 16-14-3 after an 8-9-4 ECAC regular season. Princeton fell to 10-15-4 following an 8-9-4 conference season.
If the Tigers are to rebound, the play of Stathos is crucial. The sophomore posted a 2.85 goals-against average in the regular season and an impressive .911 save percentage. He owns one of Princeton's two wins ever at Clarkson. Last year, making his first collegiate appearance, Stathos stopped 30 shots in a 4-3 victory. Coincidentally, Mattson picked up his first college win with a 16-save performance in Clarkson's 5-2 victory over Princeton in early February.
Game 2 will be Saturday at 7 p.m., and a Princeton victory would force a third and decisive game on Sunday at 7 p.m.
When the ECAC playoff positions were determined, Clarkson was the one team looking for redemption from a mediocre regular season. The Golden Knights were the defending ECAC regular-season champion and tournament title holder. A preseason poll had them as the favorite again. Princeton was picked for 11th, one spot out of the playoffs.
Heading into the postseason, the Golden Knights had a 9-4 record since the New Year, including victories in their final five ECAC games. Princeton closed the regular season with a 4-2-1 mark.
Princeton hockey information and the live broadcast of games can be obtained via the Internet at www.goprincetontigers.com. Additional ECAC information is available at http://hockey.ecac.com.
Princeton at Clarkson -- Game 1 ECAC playoff game summary
Scoring:
1st Period: PRN 01:45 Dave Bennett (David Del Monte, Benoit Morin) PRN 16:26 PP Shane Campbell
2nd Period: CLK 12:35 PP Murray Kuntz (Carl Drakensjo, Ian Manzano) CLK 16:40 Erik Cole (David Evans, Adam Campana)
3rd Period: CLK 01:02 Matt Poapst (Yan Turgeon, Ian Manzano)
Princeton Goaltending: 1st - 2nd - 3rd - Total (Minutes) Dave Stathos 6 - 11 - 9 -- 26 (59:15) Empty Net (0:45)
Clarkson Goaltending: 1st - 2nd - 3rd - Total (Minutes) Karl Mattson 12 - 5 - 7 - 24 (60:00)
Princeton Power-Play: 1/5
Clarkson Power-Play: 1/4
Penalties:
1st Period: CLK 10:03 Chris Bahen (2 - Tripping) CLK 15:27 Chris Line (2 - Holding)
2nd Period: PRN 00:37 Shane Campbell (2 - Cross-Checking) PRN 06:22 Benoit Morin (2 - Tripping) CLK 09:48 Chris Bahen (2 - Holding) PRN 11:58 George Parros (2 - Interference) CLK 12:50 Mikko Ruutu (2 - Tripping) CLK 18:11 Carl Drakensjo (2 - Unsportsmanlike Conduct) PRN 18:11 Neil McCann (2 - Holding) PRN 18:11 Benoit Morin (2 - Unsportsmanlike Conduct)
3rd Period: CLK 14:31 Kevin O'Flaherty (2 - High-Sticking) PRN 14:31 BENCH (2 - minor) CLK 14:47 Erik Cole (2 - Tripping)
Princeton Penalties: 6 for 12
Clarkson Penalties: 7 for 14
Attendance: 1878
Referee: Scott Hansen Assistant Referee: Mike St. Louis Assistant Referee: Kevin Redding