Men's Hockey Opens ECAC Playoffs At Union On Saturday

Saturday, March 4

Schenectady, N.Y.

4:00 PM

Princeton University

Union

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Liam Gorman celebrates 2023 at Hobey 100

Photo by: Sideline Photos, LLC

Men's Hockey Opens ECAC Playoffs At Union On Saturday

March 02, 2023 | Men's Ice Hockey

Princeton (12-17-0, 8-14-0 ECAC) at Union (14-18-2, 8-13-1 ECAC)
March 4 | 4 p.m. | Messa Rink
ESPN+ | International Stream | Live Stats | Tickets | Game Notes

PLAYOFFS OPEN FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW AT UNION
Just like last season, Princeton opens the postseason with a trip to Union to take on the Dutchmen. Last year, Union won the best-of-three series, two games to none, with wins by scores of 3-2 and 5-1. This year is a one-game playoff for the first round, with the winner advancing to the ECAC Quarterfinals next weekend.

This is the sixth time the two teams have met in the postseason:
1995 First Round (One Game): Princeton wins, 5-2
2009 ECAC Quarterfinals (Best Of Three): Princeton wins, two games to one
2017 ECAC Quarterfinals (Best Of Three): Union wins, two games to none
2018 ECAC Quarterfinals (Best Of Three): Princeton wins, two games to none
2022 ECAC Quarterfinals (Best Of Three): Union wins, two games to none

AHEAD OF THE EXPERTS
Picked to finish 12th in the ECAC Preseason Coaches Poll, the Tigers finished in a tie for seventh place. Princeton's 12 wins overall this season through 29 games are more than its eight in 31 games played last season. The Tigers have also surpassed their seven conference wins from 2021-22, and went 7-7-0 at home this season after going 3-10-1 on home ice last season.

CAREER YEARS
Princeton has 12 skaters returning from the 2021-22 season who have played in at least half the games this season. Of that dozen, 11 have either equalled or set career highs in points, 10 have matched or set career highs in goals, 8 have done so in assists and seven players -- Nick Carabin, Jack Cronin, Noah de la Durantaye, Liam Gorman, Ian Murphy, Adam Robbins, and Pito Walton -- have matched or set career highs in goals, assists and points.

The one skater from that group who has not done so is Spencer Kersten. He has tallied a career-high two short-handed goals while also setting new career-bests in faceoff wins (255) and faceoff percentage (57%).

THREE TIGERS AMONG HOBEY BAKER AWARD NOMINEES
Liam Gorman, Ethan Pearson and Pito Walton represent Princeton on the list of nominees for the fan voting to select the 2023 Hobey Baker Award as announced last week.

SHORT-HANDED SPECIALISTS
The Tigers enter the night ranked No. 1 in the ECAC and No. 6 in the nation with six total SHGs. Liam Gorman and Spencer Kersten each have two of the shorties, also leading the ECAC and sitting No. 6 in the country. Princeton's six team short-handed goals this season are the fourth-most in a season since 2002-03, and only Andrew Calof (3; 2010-11) has had more SHGs in a season than Gorman since that 02-03 season. The short-handed goals scored have helped offset 30 power-play goals conceded -- including 13 over the last nine games.

JACK ATTACK
Jack Cronin has struck for five PPGs -- which is No. 11 in the ECAC and is No. 48 in the country -- and is third on the team with 11 goals overall. He has already blown by his two goals from the 2021-22 season, and his 17 points through 29 games this year already surpass his point total (6) from 23 games last season.

FRESH FACES
The Tigers are expected to have six of their eight freshmen in the lineup tonight, and that group has acclimated itself well to college hockey. Overall, Princeton's eight newcomers have registered 51 points (13g, 38a) this season -- accounting for 24% of the team's total points.

POWERING UP
Princeton is 20-for-120 on the power play this season. Jack Cronin has five power-play goals, while Liam Gorman (4), Noah de la Durantaye (2), Ian Murphy (3) and Pito Walton (2) each have multiple PPGs. The Tigers have PPGs in 18-of-29 games this season, including at least one in 13 of their last 21 games. Ian Murphy's PPG at RPI broke an 0-for-13 streak on the PP.

LEANIN' ON LIAM
Liam Gorman has found his scoring touch in his senior season. Originally a Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick, Chicago traded for his rights this past summer. He posted his first career two-point night (1g, 1a) against Colgate on 11/5 and now has six multi-point games this season. After registering just 12 points (6g, 6a) over 59 games to start his Princeton career, he has 22 points (12g, 10a) in 29 games this season. Over his last 12 games, he has 13 points (7g, 6a) and has goals in five of those games.

DE LA SOUL
Noah de la Durantaye had 10 points (3g, 7a) last season. This season, he has 4g, 12a -- including 14 points (4g, 10a) over his last 20 games. He spent the summer with the Vegas Golden Knights at NHL Development Camp.

ABOUT ADAM
Adam Robbins had a breakout 2021-22 season, posting 13 points (5g, 8a) over 31 games played. His totals blew by his 2019-20 total of 2 points (0g, 2a) over 18 games. During the 2020-21 year, Robbins won a Clark Cup with the Chicago Steel. So far this season, Robbins has nine assists -- including seven power-play helpers -- and 14 points overall.

PITO POCKETS POINTS
Defenseman Pito Walton turned a 6-point 2019-20 season into an 11-point campaign last year. This year, he has set another career high with 6g, 14a for 20 points. He was named ECAC Defender of the Week for his efforts in Princeton's sweep of Union and RPI and ECAC Defender of the Month for December.

SETTING SEITZ
Nick Seitz also had a breakout 2021-22 season, setting career highs in goals (3), assists (6) and points (9). This year, he has followed up with 14 points (9g, 5a) through 24 games. He has goals in five of his last nine games.