Princeton University
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Dartmouth
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Players Mentioned
Late Goal Lifts Dartmouth to 3-2 Win in Game 1 of ECAC Hockey Playoffs
March 06, 2015 | Men's Ice Hockey
BOX SCORE
HANOVER, N.H. (3/6/15) - It was a heartbreaking finish to a hard-fought game for the Princeton men's hockey team. Princeton dominated the third period against Dartmouth and with just 1:27 remaining, it went terribly wrong.
Eric Neiley scored the game-winning goal with help from Brandon McNally. McNally skated behind the goal with the puck and with the defense and netminder Colton Phinney following him, he quickly jettisoned the puck to weak side where Neiley was waiting to fire the puck and give Dartmouth a 3-2 victory.
The Tigers outplayed the Big Green in both the first and third periods, and now they are in a must-win situation in order to keep their season going.
The Tigers came out flying in the first period of this best-of-three ECAC Hockey first-round series. They were physical and had great puck movement as they put together some nice offensive plays. It led to Princeton taking the early lead, six minutes into the game.
Matt Nelson scored his first career goal on the Tigers' third shot on goal of the game. The rookie blueliner banged his stick on the ice at the right point and sophomore Ryan Siiro sent him the cross-ice pass from the bottom of the left circle, and Nelson whipped the puck past Dartmouth goaltender James Kruger.
The second period went in a different direction, as Princeton gave up two goals and 11 shots and took just three. The Tigers also drew three penalties, and the power-play opportunities brought the Big Green to life.
Dartmouth scored twice within 46 seconds to take the lead, 2-1 at 11:14 and 12:00 of the second.
A delayed penalty, extra-attacker goal by Tyler Sikura knotted the game at 1-1. The shot by Sikura hit the post and bounced off the back of a defender and into the goal.
That delayed penalty was on freshman Eric Robinson, for slashing, his second and Princeton's second penalty of the period and the Big Green capitalized on it.
Dartmouth's Eric Robinson scored on a rebound by Brad Schierhorn after he took a shot from inside the left circle.
Princeton returned to its hard-pounding physicality and quickness in the third period and the work paid off as sophomore Garrett Skrbich scored to tie the game at 2-2 at 8:53.
Corey Kalk was called for Dartmouth's first penalty of the game, for interference at 6:15. The Tigers had already had some quality scoring chances and got even more shots on net during the power play. Thirty-eight seconds after the power play was complete the Tigers got the equalizer.
Sophomore Kevin Liss had a shot from the right point that was redirected in the slot by Skrbich for his second tally of the season. Robinson started the play, as he and Liss each picked up their second assists of the year.
The Tigers continued to pepper Kruger with shots as they kept possession after the goal and didn't allow Dartmouth much, if any, time in the opposite end. It continued after Brett Patterson went to the box for slashing at 10:18. At the end of the period, Princeton outshot Dartmouth 14-7.
After Neiley's goal at 18:33, the Tigers scrambled to even the game back up and try to force overtime.
Phinney went off with 30 seconds remaining and before he could even get to the bench, Sikura intercepted the puck and shot just wide of the open net. Senior Tucker Brockett was called for contact to the head with 16.6 seconds remaining, and with the face off coming deep in the zone, Phinney had to resume his position on the ice. Princeton won the draw and Phinney skated off with nine seconds left but the Tigers weren't able to get anything going offensively before the buzzer sounded.
Dartmouth was 1 for 4 on the power play, while Princeton was 0 for 2.
Phinney made 23 saves for Princeton, while Kruger stopped 22 for Dartmouth.
The teams will meet again tomorrow at 7 p.m., in the best-of-three series.