As both teams were starting to slow down in the second overtime, Colin Greening snapped a wrist shot past Kalemba at 10:06 to give the Big Red a 4-3 win. The goal sends the Big Red to the ECAC Final against Yale, while Princeton will have to fight for its NCAA Tournament life against St. Lawrence in the consolation game tomorrow.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Second OT, 12:37.
Slap shot from Pallis stopped by Scrivens. Nash has been spending a lot of time on the ice for the Big Red. It will be interesting to see if he gets tired.
Second OT, 16:01.
Shot from Cornell deflected and hits the right post. Cornell shot just deflected over the net. The Big Red just had multiple scoring opportunities with Nash on the ice. Nash's line is giving Princeton all kinds of trouble.
Second OT, 18:29.
Sabky's shot hits Scrivens and then lands on top of the net. Unbelievably close to going in. Glove save by Kalemba on the other end.
Second Overtime Set to Begin
Here we go...Princeton controls the face off. Nash gets off a shot but Kalemba easily deflects it away.
First Overtime Recap, Game tied 3-3
What regulation play lacked in excitement, the first overtime made up for in a flurry. Back and forth hockey was the norm, as both teams peppered the opposing nets with shots, forcing Kalemba and Scrivens to come up with save after save.
Princeton's best chance came on a two-on-one break, but Princeton's shot was not high enough, and was blocked by Scrivens' outstretched pad. Cornell had multiple opportunities from close to the net, but Kalemba stood tall, making saves with every piece of his equipment to keep the Tigers in the game. Though Princeton came out a little sluggish in the first few minutes of overtime, the team quickly recovered to play some of its best offensive hockey of the game.
At this point, the game will come down to which team has more gas left in the tank.
First OT Stats:
Shots: Princeton 10, Cornell 10
No penalties
OT, 0:44.
Kalemba makes a glove save of a Sean Whitney shot. Cornell's next shot goes wide right of the goal. Kalemba blocks away a shot off a two-on-one Cornell break. Shot from Princeton blocked by Scrivens, and the Tigers can't capitalize on the rebound. Less than one minute remaining with the score still tied 3-3 in OT.
OT, 3:53.
Glove save by Kalemba off a Gallagher shot. Kalemba makes a diving save off a Patrick Kennedy shot. Cornell has had the puck in the Princeton zone for a minute now.
OT, 5:01.
Play still going back and forth. The pressure keeps rising but both teams appear to be maintaining their composure.
OT, 7:24.
Shot from Kennedy goes wide for Cornell. Arhontas undercuts a Cornell player. Kalemba stops a Krueger shot from right in front of the net. INCREDIBLE Save.
OT, 10:53.
Shot from Riley Nash goes over the right side of the net. Then Jubinville has a chance but Cornell makes a nice defensive play to prevent a shot.
Fedun's shot is blocked by Scrivens. The Tigers just had three opportunities to score but Scrivens blocked them all. Very exciting hockey right now.
OT, 14:00.
Bartlett almost steals the puck in front of the Cornell net. Scrivens lays out to block a point blank Princeton opportunity. Had the shot been a foot higher, it would have gone in the net. Scrivens then jabs the puck away from his net after the faceoff. Princeton has picked up its play.
OT, 15:48.
Lohry trips trying to bring the puck into the offensive zone. Shot from Pederson goes over the net. Multiple shots from Cornell then go just wide of the net. Princeton is toeing an incredibly thin line right now. The Tigers will need to do a better job of clearing their defensive zone to turn things around.
OT, 17:30.
The puck bounces around in front of the Princeton goal but Cornell can't capitalize. The Tigers finally clear their defensive zone. Cornell looks much sharper in the beginning of the extra period.
Overtime Begins
Cornell controls the opening faceoff, let's see if Princeton can recover from its third period collapse.
Regulation Recap
Princeton appeared to be headed to the ECAC Tournament final, up 3-1 against Cornell with less than 3 minutes to play in regulation. But the Big Red would not go away. First, it was Barlow scoring a four-on-four goal to bring Cornell within 1. Then, with only 24.5 seconds remaining, Riley Nash, Cornell's star center who had been neutralized for much of the game, banged home a loose puck to tie the score 3-3 and send the game to overtime.
At times, the game had a lackadaisical feel until the closing minutes. Both teams struggled to establish any consistency in the offensive zone. The first goal of the game, from Princeton's Sam Sabky, came off a rebound. Cornell's first goal,from Tyler Mungford, was almost a mirror image, coming off a stick side rebound as well.
Princeton's second goal was scored on an excellent play be Dan Bartlett. The junior center streaked up the left side of the goal, went around the goal causing Scrivens to lose his balance, and punching the puck in to give Princeton a 2-1 edge. Then it was MacIntyre, coming in from the right side and chipping the puck over Scrivens to give Princeton a 3-1 edge in the third period. At that point, it looked like the Tigers had a berth in the finals locked up, with ECAC player of the year Zane Kalemba only needing to hold off the Big Red for a few more minutes to end the game. It was not to be, as Cornell stormed back to force overtime.
After coming so close to winning, the Tigers will need to turn things around quickly if they want to return to the ECAC final. The opening minute of overtime will be crucial for Princeton to show that it is not reeling after Cornell's late game heroics.
The two teams will play twenty-minute periods of sudden death overtime until one team scores a goal. The next team to score will win the game and earn a spot in the ECAC Tournament final, tomorrow night against Yale.
Third Period, 0:24.
Riley Nash scores to tie the score 3-3. A Big Red player fell on Kalemba and he was unable to make the save.
45.7 seconds remaining
Cornell calls a time out. Princeton will need to hang tough for another minute to advance to the final.
Third Period, 0:45.
Cornell is struggling to get the puck in the Princeton zone.
Scrivens leaves his net with 1 minute remaining. Kalemba makes a glove save to stop play.
Third Period, 2:52.
Kalemba blocks another point blank Cornell attempt.
Evan Barlow scores for Cornell to make the score 3-2. The Big Red had been outplaying Princeton in four-on-four play all game.
Third Period, 4:11.
Cornell penalty on Colin Greening for interference, his second of the game, to nullify Cornell's advantage. The teams will play four-on-four for 1:35.
Third Period, 4:37.
Gallagher uses some nice stick work to move up the ice and get a shot off but Kalemba makes another save. Scrivens makes a glove save on Hagel's attempt.
Princeton penalty on Mike Kramer. Cornell will need to capitalize if they want to stay in the game.
Third Period, 6:07.
In an unexpected turn, the Princeton band's tuba player drops his tuba down the steps, but recovers so the band plays on.
Cornell kills another Princeton penalty, as the Tiger power play continues to struggle.
Third Period, 11:44.
Matt Arhontas shoots wide right. Not much has happened in the past few minutes but Princeton will need to stay on its guard to prevent Cornell from mounting a late game comeback.
Third Period, 14:22.
Short-handed attempt from Arhontas goes wide right. Penalty on Greening at 16:48. So the teams will play four-on-four for one minute. Kalemba blocks a Patrick Kennedy wraparound. Wilson is back on the ice so Princeton now has a man-advantage. Cornell kills another Princeton penalty.
Second Period, 17:50
The Tigers are now outshooting Cornell 22-19 - That's a little more like it. This penalty kill is make-or-break for the Big Red.
Third Period, 17:50.
Shot from Ritchie blocked by Scrivens and Princeton can't capitalize on the rebound. Immediately after Nash comes back on the ice, a penalty is called on Brett Wilson for hooking. Now Cornell has a man-advantage.
Third Period Begins
Nash in the penalty box. Let's see if Princeton can take advantage and stretch its lead.
Second Period Over, Princeton leads 2-1
The game is getting feistier as the second period comes to a close. MacIntyre's shot goes wide right of the goal. Cornell penalty on Riley Nash (I wonder what the Edmonton Oilers thinks about that) with only 7.5 seconds remaining. So the Tigers will have a man advantage to start the third period.
Second Period, 1:08.
Slapshot from Brendon Nash goes wide right of the goal. Another slapshot form Cornell goes wide left. The Big Red had the better end of the four-on-four.
With the teams back at even strength, Taylor Fedun takes a slap shot that Scrivens blocks with his body.
Second Period, 4:12.
A pair of penalties on Gallagher for Cornell and Magnowswki for Princeton. The team's will play four-on-four for the next two minutes.
Second Period, 5:57.
Scrivens blocks a Kramer shot with his right pad. MacIntyre levels a Cornell player in the right corner of the offensive zone.
Then Dan Bartlett skates around the Cornell goal and scores on a wraparound to give Princeton a 2-1 lead. Bartlett's move had Scrivens way out of position and the Big Red goalie could not recover.
Second Period, 9:30.
Shot from Scali blocked by Kalemba. Cornell has stepped up its speed and intensity since Princeton's goal. The Tigers will need to respond in order to reestablish momentum.
Second Period,12:45.
Cornell scores to make the score 1-1. With the puck loose in the Princeton zone, the Tigers fail to clear the zone and Tyler Mungford knocks in the rebound on Kalemba's stick side.
Goal
Cornell was playing too well to not score eventually. It will be interesting to see how the Tigers respond now. They have played a much better period, but the heavily-Red crowd is starting to get involved and the middle of the second period is where momentum becomes a hot commodity.
Second Period, 14:36.
Kalemba blocks a shot on the right side from Colin Greening. Cornell has stepped up the pressure in the last few minutes and the intensity of the game is picking up. Scrivens stops a Pallis wrist shot for a faceoff.
Second Period, 16:20.
After a faceoff in the Princeton zone, the puck bounces off a few players and trickles by Kalemba, only to hit the outside of the left post and go just wide.
Slap shot from Derrick Pallis is blocked aside by Scrivens. On the ensuing faceoff, Kramer fires a shot that is covered up by Scrivens. Princeton has come out like a completely different team in the second period and has put much more pressure on Scrivens and the Cornell defense.
Goal
Scrivens put that rebound on a platter. Sabky made a quick move around a defender and slammed it into the gaping net. In a game of elite goaltenders, it is imperative to capitalize on every small mistake. Princeton just did exactly that.
Third Period, 8:50.
Kaiser's backhand shot goes wide left. A wrist shot from Jubinville is stopped by Scrivens. MacIntyre flips the puck above Scrivens glove for another Princeton goal, then proceeds to get in a fight with the entire Cornell team.
But as it stands, Princeton leads 3-1.
There is also a penalty on Mungford for Cornell.
Second Period, 18:20.
Princeton Goal from Sam Sabky, who knocks in the rebound after a MacIntyre slap shot on an odd-man rush. Princeton leads 1-0.
First Period Stats
Cornell holds a 12-7 edge in shots after one period. Let's see if Princeton can turn it around in the second period.
First Period Over
The first period ends with MacIntyre mixing it up with a Cornell player by the Big Red bench. Something tells me this is a plot to follow for the rest of the game...
First Period, 0:41.
Slap shot from Brendon Nash blocked by Kalemba. Less than one minute remaining in the first period, which has been primarily controlled by the Big Red.
First Period, 2:21.
Princeton kills the Cornell penalty. There is a tussle in front of the Princeton net but Kalemba covers up the puck.
Princeton is currently being out shot by Cornell, which does not happen often as Princeton leads the nation in shots.
First Period, 4:30.
Slap shot from Ritchie goes wide right.
Cornell has the puck behind the net but Kalemba blocks another shot. Princeton is struggling to keep the puck in its offensive zone so far. Cornell has the edge in early opportunities but has been stymied by Kalemba.
Penalty on Kaiser for slashing.
First Period, 7:23.
Backhand attempt from Kramer goes wide of the goal. Shot from Schroeder on a 3-2 break goes over the glass. Nash's penalty is over. Cornell has a 17 second man-advantage which Princeton easily kills.
Following the penalty, Cornell crosses the puck in front of the ice but Kalemba blocks it away with his stick.
First Period, 9:40.
Penalty on Riley Nash for slashing at 10:03.
Quickly followed by a holding penalty on Jody Pederson at 9:40.
The teams are playing four-on-four.
First Period, 10:34.
Backhand attempt from Jubinville goes right of the net. Following the missed shot, Princeton has the puck behind the net but Scrivens covers up the puck.
Shot from Brendon Nash blocked aside by Kalemba. Cam Ritchie levels a Cornell player in Princeton's offensive zone.
First Period, 13:25.
Shot from Cornell deflected by Kalemba off the pipe. Shortly afterwards, Kalemba stops a point blank Cornell attempt before another shot goes off the pipe. The second shot was much more of a threat.
Cornell looks a little sharper early in the game. Princeton is struggling to get the puck out of its defensive zone.
First Period, 17:16.
The first shot of the game, a slap shot by Jubinville, is easily brushed aside by Scrivens. Other than that, not much action as both teams struggle to establish an early edge.
Starting Lineups
Princeton (wearing Black and Orange)
LW Marc Hagel
C Kevin Kaiser
RW Brandan Kushniruk
LD Brad Schroeder
RD Matt Godlewski
G Zane Kalemba
Cornell (wearing White and Red)
LW Patrick Kennedy
C Riley Nash
RW Evan Barlow
LD Brendon Nash
RD Justin Krueger
G Ben Scrivens
ECAC Semifinals - No. 8 Princeton vs. No. 9 Cornell
Hi and welcome to downtown Albany’s Times-Union Center for the ECAC Hockey semifinal between No. 8 Princeton University and No. 9 Cornell University. Earlier today No. 14 St. Lawrence beat No. 7 Yale 3-2 to advance to tomorrow’s finals. The Bulldogs will await the winner of tonight’s contest.
The Tigers (22-10-0) won their best-of-three series against Union last weekend in the three games behind strong play from junior goaltender Zane Kalemba and junior forward Dan Bartlett. Princeton won the first game 3-2, dropped the second 5-2, and won the deciding game 3-2 thanks to three first-period goals.
But hidden behind the series victory was a serious flaw in Princeton’s game: its physicality. The Tigers were abused physically by the Dutchmen, especially in their ugly Game 2 loss, and must come out tonight with heightened intensity. The return of junior forward Cam MacIntyre should help – MacIntyre dressed for the third game against Union and gave Princeton a much-needed physical presence – but the Tigers will need intensity from more than just one player. Princeton is the least penalized team in the nation (10.6 minutes per game) which is beneficial as long as that discipline does not impinge on the team’s physicality. Last weekend the Tigers found themselves on the wrong side of that line and it will be interesting to see if Cornell comes out tonight with the intention of attacking Princeton on the boards.
Tonight’s game is a showdown between two of the nation’s best goaltenders. Kalemba, recently named one of the ten Hobey Baker finalists, ranks second in the nation in save percentage (.936) and fourth in goals against average (1.6876). Cornell junior goalie Ben Scrivens is tied with Kalemba with a .936 save percentage and third in the nation with a 1.6808 GAA.
Big Red sophomore forward Riley Nash is sixth in the ECAC with a team-high 32 points. Riley is strong on the puck, but the line to watch for Cornell is centered by senior Michael Kennedy with junior Colin Greening on the left wing and freshman Locke Jillson on the right wing. Greening and Kennedy have excellent on-ice chemistry, and the Tigers must be aware of where they are at all times. Another Cornell skater to watch is junior Tyler Mugford, who centers the third line.
For the Tigers, the line to watch is senior Lee Jubinville between senior Brett Wilson and sophomore Mike Kramer. It seems as though all the Tigers’ recent offense has come from this group, and they must continue their recent tear tonight. That being said, the Tigers will need offense production from somewhere else as well. Sophomore forward Kevin Lohry had a huge tournament here last year, so look for him to step up. Same goes for MacIntyre, who was second on the team in scoring last season, but has been plagued throughout this season by injuries.
Keys to the Game:
Eric Dodds: Power Play. The Tigers were 0-16 against in their three games against Union, and have converted only 4 of their last 53 chances on the man-advantage.
Zach Kwartler: The Tigers need a goal from either sophomore forward Kevin Lohry, junior forward Cam MacIntyre, or junior forward Mark Magnowski – Production from a line other than the Wilson-Jubinville-Kramer juggernaut.
Eben Novy-Williams: Establish a physical presence. The Tigers need to show early on that they will not be pushed around like they were last weekend.
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