Saturday, March 7
Hanover, N.H.
7:00 PM
Princeton University
6-20-5
5
at
4
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Dartmouth
13-14-4
1
2
3
OT 1
F
Princeton
2
1
1
1
5
Dartmouth
0
1
3
0
4
Photo by: Princeton Athletic Communications
Paolini's OT Game-Winner Secures Playoff Sweep For Men's Hockey
March 07, 2020 | Men's Ice Hockey
HANOVER, N.H. – Movin' On!
No. 11 seed Princeton swept No. 6 Dartmouth, advancing via a Mark Paolini power-play goal with 9:05 remaining in overtime to secure a 5-4 win.
Paolini took a Jake Paganelli pass and fired off the post – then off Dartmouth's goalie – and just over the line to clinch the series for the Tigers.
Jeremie Forget had a career-high 46 saves, including 22 in the third period and nine in overtime.
The series win is just the third sweep in ECAC Playoffs history for the Tigers – the others coming in 2018 against Brown and Union en route to an ECAC championship.
Since the ECAC expanded to a 12-team format for the postseason, the Tigers are just the sixth team seeded 11th or higher to advance past the first round – and the first since St. Lawrence (No. 11) and Colgate (No. 12) both won series in 2011.
Princeton held what appeared to be a commanding 4-1 lead after a Jackson Cressey goal 15:56 remaining in the third period, but the Big Green rallied with three goals in the final 11:52 to force overtime. The Big Green launched 25 shots on goal in the third period as they tied the game.
Spencer Kersten opened the scoring for Princeton, deflecting home a Matthew Thom shot from the point with 9:03 left in the first period. The goal was a team effort as all five Tigers touched the puck in a span of five seconds off a Liam Gorman faceoff win. His clean draw went to Christian O'Neill who fed back to Reid Yochim. Last night's overtime hero dished to his defense partner Matthew Thom whose quick shot was tipped off the near post and in by Spencer Kersten.
With under 3:00 left in the first period, Mike Ufberg gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead. Luke Keenan gathered a soft clearing attempt by Dartmouth and sped back on attack, driving wide by his defender and feeding a pass into the slot which kicked off a Big Green defenseman and to a wide-open Ufberg who snapped his second goal of the season over Clark's glove.
Princeton upped its lead to 3-0 just 1:32 into the second period via a Liam Grande goal on the powerplay. Great puck movement from Derek Topatigh to Luke Keenan left Grande open in front for an easy tap-in score.
Dartmouth needed just 0:13 after Grande's goal to answer and get on the board with a Mark Gallant goal assisted by Collin Rutherford and Brendan Less.
Jackson Cressey gave the Tigers a 4-1 lead 4:04 into the third period, crashing the net and causing enough havoc for a Grande pass to bank off him and in.
Dartmouth jumpstarted its comeback with two goals in 1:05. Harrison Markell and Tanner Palocsik each scored from the blue line, clawing the Big Green back within one with 7:03 remaining. Palocsik's was a power-play goal, finding a way through a screen and over Forget's shoulder.
The Big Green held pressure for the final two minutes, attacking with an extra skater before Matt Baker scored the tying goal with 2.3 seconds remaining. Off a faceoff with 0:08 remaining, Drew O'Connor fed over to Palocsik whose shot was saved by Forget before Baker's rebound offering fluttered off Forget's pads and in to force overtime.
No. 11 seed Princeton swept No. 6 Dartmouth, advancing via a Mark Paolini power-play goal with 9:05 remaining in overtime to secure a 5-4 win.
Paolini took a Jake Paganelli pass and fired off the post – then off Dartmouth's goalie – and just over the line to clinch the series for the Tigers.
Senior Derek Topatigh had two assists, as did Luke Keenan. Liam Grande had a goal and an assist for the Tigers.The Game Winner! The Series Ender!
— Princeton University Hockey (@princetonhockey) March 8, 2020
Paolini Finds Paydirt And Princeton Advances! pic.twitter.com/p9J0nYUpBj
Jeremie Forget had a career-high 46 saves, including 22 in the third period and nine in overtime.
The series win is just the third sweep in ECAC Playoffs history for the Tigers – the others coming in 2018 against Brown and Union en route to an ECAC championship.
Since the ECAC expanded to a 12-team format for the postseason, the Tigers are just the sixth team seeded 11th or higher to advance past the first round – and the first since St. Lawrence (No. 11) and Colgate (No. 12) both won series in 2011.
Princeton held what appeared to be a commanding 4-1 lead after a Jackson Cressey goal 15:56 remaining in the third period, but the Big Green rallied with three goals in the final 11:52 to force overtime. The Big Green launched 25 shots on goal in the third period as they tied the game.
Spencer Kersten opened the scoring for Princeton, deflecting home a Matthew Thom shot from the point with 9:03 left in the first period. The goal was a team effort as all five Tigers touched the puck in a span of five seconds off a Liam Gorman faceoff win. His clean draw went to Christian O'Neill who fed back to Reid Yochim. Last night's overtime hero dished to his defense partner Matthew Thom whose quick shot was tipped off the near post and in by Spencer Kersten.
With under 3:00 left in the first period, Mike Ufberg gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead. Luke Keenan gathered a soft clearing attempt by Dartmouth and sped back on attack, driving wide by his defender and feeding a pass into the slot which kicked off a Big Green defenseman and to a wide-open Ufberg who snapped his second goal of the season over Clark's glove.
Top Corner From Ufberg!
— Princeton University Hockey (@princetonhockey) March 8, 2020
Keenan's pass finds a way to a wide open Mike Ufberg for a 2-0 lead after 20:00 pic.twitter.com/37AvPuLpJh
Princeton upped its lead to 3-0 just 1:32 into the second period via a Liam Grande goal on the powerplay. Great puck movement from Derek Topatigh to Luke Keenan left Grande open in front for an easy tap-in score.
Orderin' Up A Grande!
— Princeton University Hockey (@princetonhockey) March 8, 2020
Pretty passing leads to a 3-0 lead for the Tigers early in the third period. pic.twitter.com/lEJKlxrSQ4
Dartmouth needed just 0:13 after Grande's goal to answer and get on the board with a Mark Gallant goal assisted by Collin Rutherford and Brendan Less.
Jackson Cressey gave the Tigers a 4-1 lead 4:04 into the third period, crashing the net and causing enough havoc for a Grande pass to bank off him and in.
Dartmouth jumpstarted its comeback with two goals in 1:05. Harrison Markell and Tanner Palocsik each scored from the blue line, clawing the Big Green back within one with 7:03 remaining. Palocsik's was a power-play goal, finding a way through a screen and over Forget's shoulder.
The Big Green held pressure for the final two minutes, attacking with an extra skater before Matt Baker scored the tying goal with 2.3 seconds remaining. Off a faceoff with 0:08 remaining, Drew O'Connor fed over to Palocsik whose shot was saved by Forget before Baker's rebound offering fluttered off Forget's pads and in to force overtime.
Team Stats
PRIN
DART
Shots
34
50
PPG
2
1
SHG
0
0
Penalties
5
5
Penalty Mins
10
10
Faceoffs Won
35
39
Game Leaders
+/-
0
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
1
+/-
+1
Goals
0
Sh
4
A
2
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
3
A
2
+/-
+1
Goals
0
Sh
0
A
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
G
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice HockeyF
/ Men's Ice HockeyF
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice HockeyF
/ Men's Ice Hockey
D
/ Men's Ice Hockey
D
/ Men's Ice HockeyD
/ Men's Ice Hockey
D
/ Men's Ice Hockey
D
/ Men's Ice HockeyPlatform & Opportunity: Meet the Men’s Ice Hockey Tiger Pals Mentors
Wednesday, February 26
Princeton Hockey: Tiger Pals
Wednesday, February 19
Princeton Athletics 2023-24 Highlights
Tuesday, June 04
Feature: Broomball at Baker Rink
Thursday, January 18