Men's Hockey Rallies By Harvard, 5-2

Saturday, December 30

Princeton, N.J.

4:00 PM

Princeton University

6-5-2, 5-3-1

Harvard

1-6-3, 1-4-3

Harvard

Princeton

Photo by: Shelley M. Szwast

December 30, 2023 | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

Closing out 2023 in style!

Despite spotting Harvard a two-goal lead in the first period, Princeton rallied with five unanswered to defeat Harvard, 5-2, in front of a sold-out Hobey Baker Rink crowd.

With the win, Princeton (6-5-2, 5-3-1 ECAC) sis in second place in the ECAC with 14 points – one behind Quinnipiac. Inside the Ivy League, the Tigers sit atop the table with 11 points – two clear of Cornell.

Nick Carabin (1 goal, 2 assists) and Nick Seitz (three assists) each had three-point nights to match their career highs, while Jaxson Ezman had a career-high two goals. Kai Daniells (1 goal, 1 assist) had a career-high two points in the game.

Arthur Smith made 28 saves in the win, stopping the last 21 he faced after the Crimson took the 2-0 lead.

5:14 (3rd): Princeton 4, Harvard 2

GOAL by Ezman, Tigers lead by 2!#ncaahockey #ecachockey pic.twitter.com/cGwRiz5QMe
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) December 30, 2023

The Tigers were a perfect 4-for-4 on the penalty kill, including a crucial 5-on-3 overlapping the end of the first period and start of the second while down by two goals.

On the flip side, the Tigers were 2-for-3 on the power play.

The Crimson capitalized on a pair of Princeton turnovers to build a 2-0 lead after the first period.

Jack Bar opened the scoring 12:14 into the game with a one-timer from the point which just eluded Smith. Harvard doubled its lead 4:09 later when Joe Miller picked the puck off a defensman's stick and flipped a backhander under the crossbar on a breakaway.

Jaxson Ezman scored 3:30 into the second period to get the Tigers on the board, netting his third of the season via a quick snapshot from the slot assisted by Nick Seitz and Nick Carabin.

Jaxson Is Wild!@jaxsonezman finishes off a spectacular spin-o-rama and pass from Nick Seitz to get the Tigers on the board!@ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey | @TeamECH pic.twitter.com/MVRd8eDVet
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) December 30, 2023

The Tigers would then score twice on the power play to take a 3-2 lead after two periods.

Adam Robbins tied the game at 2-2 when he finished off a cycle sequence with Kai Daniells. The two exchanged multiple passes along the half-wall before Daniells sent a shot to goal that caromed back to Robbins for a quick shot and score from inside the circle.

A Pretty, Pretty PPG!

Adam Robbins and Kai Daniells play some catch and Robbins finishes to tie the game!@ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey | @TeamECH pic.twitter.com/IR0wJASE8D
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) December 30, 2023

Daniells would then tack on a power-play goal of his own with 13.4 seconds left in the period, putting the bow on a beautiful sequence started by Arthur Smith with a long-distance stretch pass. Four Tiger skaters would touch the puck in quick fashion, with Seitz threading a pass through a defender which Daniells got a piece of at the far post for the lead.

Everyone's Involved!

One of the prettier PPGs you'll see gives the Tigers a 3-2 lead after two periods.@ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey | @TeamECH | @Buccigross pic.twitter.com/xzR87oRBiD
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) December 30, 2023

Ezman tallied his second goal with 5:14 remaining slipping free at the far post to deposit a cross-ice feed from Seitz after a strong forecheck deep in the Harvard end.

Carabin iced the game with an empty-netter while the Tigers were short-handed with 3:19 left. The Crimson had pulled their goalie in search of some momentum while on the power play, but Carabin powered through a Harvard defenseman and broke free in the clear to send in a long-distance goal.

3:19 (3rd): Princeton 5, Harvard 2

Carabin with the 5th goal for the Tigers in the 3rd!#ncaahockey #ecachockey pic.twitter.com/XVnpF06IOC
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) December 30, 2023

Princeton heads to No. 19 New Hampshire for a pair of games to open 2024, taking on the Wildcats January 5 and 6 in Durham.