Men's Hockey Clamps Down On Union In 2-1 Win

Friday, December 6

7:00 PM

Princeton University

4-4-1, 2-4-1

Union

9-4-1, 3-2-0

Union (NY)

Princeton

Photo by: Shelley M. Szwast

December 06, 2024 | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

It might not have been the prettiest hockey game, but Princeton sure played a gritty one as the Tigers (4-4-1, 2-4-1 ECAC) clawed their way to a 2-1 win over Union (9-4-1, 3-2-0 ECAC) at Hobey Baker Rink to secure three important points in the ECAC standings.

Miles Gunty had assists on both Princeton goals, while Luc Pelletier and Noah de la Durantaye had the markers as the Tigers scored twice in the first half of the second period and dialed up a stout defensive effort the rest of the way.

Luc Lights The Lamp!

Great time for the first tuck of Luc Pelletier's Princeton career!@ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey pic.twitter.com/Tim7FdQmjO
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) December 7, 2024

Arthur Smith made 27 saves in goal – stopping nine shots in each period – to record his third straight win. Dating back to two wins over No. 12 Ohio State last weekend, Smith has now stopped 93 of 96 shots on goal for a .969 save percentage and a 1.00 GAA over the week.

The Tigers have now held opponents to 1 goal in five of nine games played this season after holding opponents to 1 or fewer goals five times all of last season.

The three consecutive games conceding 1 or fewer goals is the longest stretch of doing so by a Princeton team since the 2008-09 club did so over a span of six games from 11/7-11/21 of that season.

After a scoreless first period, Princeton connected early in the second with the first career goal from Luc Pelletier 2:46 into the middle period.

He camped out in front and tucked home a Kevin Anderson pass through the Union goalie's pads to get the Tigers on the board.

Just under six minutes later, the Tigers scored a power-play goal while on a 5-on-3 advantage to take a 2-0 lead.

Princeton was patient with nearly a full two minutes of the two-man advantage to work with. Eventually, Brendan Gorman slid a pass behind the net to Miles Gunty who dished to de la Durantaye at the top of the circles. The senior defenseman then walked towards the middle of the slot and roofed a snapshot off the post and in for a 2-0 lead.

De La Goes Ding Dong!

Noah de la Durantaye rings one off the post for a PPG and a 2-0 lead!@ecachockey | @NCAAIceHockey | @TeamECH pic.twitter.com/kigeaohh4D
— Princeton Men's Ice Hockey (@princetonhockey) December 7, 2024

The Garnet Chargers got one back with a power-play goal of their own with 8:32 remaining in the second period. It was a bit of a scramble sequence after a Cullen Ferguson shot was deflected off the post and out by Parker Lindauer, but Caden Villegas swatted home the loose puck before Smith could recover.

In the third period, Union pushed for the equalizer but Smith turned aside all nine shots faced - benefiting from some help in front of him as the Tigers blocked seven shots in the third periods as well -- including a crucial block from Joshua Karnish with two seconds remaining and the goalied pulled.

The Tigers complete the ECAC home weekend with a 7 p.m. puck drop against RPI at Baker Rink on December 7.