In a game featuring plenty of specialty-teams play, Clarkson University rallied with two third-period goals to skate to a 3-3 overtime tie against Rensselaer before 2,235 fans at Cheel Arena in the ECAC Hockey League opener for both teams Friday night.
Trailing 3-2 late in the third, sophomore David Cayer (Longueuil, QUE) one-timed a shot from the right side of the net off a pass from classmate, defenseman Grant Clitsome (Gloucester, ONT) for his fourth goal of the year to tie the contest at 14:05. Freshman Shea Guthrie (Carleton Place, ONT) also assisted. The Golden Knights had an excellent opportunity to take the lead in the final seconds, but Guthrie was stopped from point-blank range, forcing the game into overtime.
Both teams had plenty of extra-man opportunities to score in the penalty-filled contest. Rensselaer was 2-of-11 with the man advantage, while Clarkson was 2-of-8 on the power play.
After successfully killing off an early power-play opportunity by Clarkson in the first, Rensselaer tallied on the man-advantage to take the initial lead at 4:18. The Knights took advantage of a lengthy two-man-advantage to tie the score as sophomore Nick Dodge (Oakville, ONT) connected for his fifth goal of the year at 10:34 off assists from junior Mike Sullivan (Stouffville, ONT) and Michael Grenzy (Lockport, NY). The Engineers had an excellent opportunity to regain the lead late in the first with a two-man advantage for 1:42. The Knights’ penalty-killing unit came up with a big effort, however, and did not allow Rensselaer a shot on goal while on the power play.
Rensselaer spent the majority of the second stanza on the man advantage, with six power-play chances, and finally connected with 55 seconds left in a five-minute major late in the period, at 18:34, to take a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.
The Knights tied it at 9:28 of the third on Sullivan’s second goal of the season with senior Jeff Genovy (Kalamazoo, MI) and Dodge assisting, but the Engineers came righ back 15 seconds later to grab a 3-2 lead.
Clarkson out shot Rensselaer 29-23. Sophomore David Leggio (Williamsville, NY) made 20 saves, including 11 in the second frame to keep it a one-goal contest.
Unbeaten in its last three games, Clarkson will look to improve upon its 4-2-1 overall record when it hosts Union on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
