Tigers host pair of ranked teams

After comparing records and statistics, only the most optimistic of analysts would predict a win for the men's hockey team this weekend. Princeton's opponents have fewer combined losses, 12, than the Tigers (6-15-2 overall, 4-11-1 Eastern College Athletic Conference Hockey League) have in total.

Cornell (16-4-3, 12-2-2), currently ranked No. 5 in the nation, enters tonight's match-up boasting the longest undefeated streak in the country, accumulating seven wins and one tie in an eight-game stretch. Meanwhile, No. 13 Colgate (19-8-1, 11-4-1) allows fewer than two goals per game.

Still, Princeton's games against these teams earlier this season and its underdog momentum keep a slimmer of hope alive for a potential surprise. The weekend of Dec. 3-4, the Tigers lost two tough games in upstate New York, falling 4-2 to Cornell and 5-3 to Colgate.

Defensive Enigma

Cornell, which is also top in the ECACHL, presents a challenging defensive enigma. The Big Red has allowed more than three goals only three times this year.

Propitiously, one of those occasions came against the Tigers on Cornell's home ice. Princeton's offensive success was a result of intense pressure around the Big Red net, and the Tigers will need to employ a similar strategy tonight if they wish to come out with a win.

Princeton certainly possesses the weapons for such scoring production. Junior forward Dustin Sproat has been dominant on the offensive end this season, leading the team with 14 goals and 16 assists. Sophomore forward Grant Goeckner-Zoeller, senior defenseman Luc Paquin and junior forward Patrick Neundorfer round out the select few with 20 or more points, notching 25, 21 and 20, respectively.

The Tigers' best team performances seem to come when members of the supporting cast contribute big games. Sophomore forward Darroll Powe and junior forward Sebastian Borza have played this role with great success.

Cornell's defense, however, is extremely stingy and should give Princeton's offensive weapons trouble getting established. The Big Red relies on goalie David McKee for that advantage. McKee's average of 1.39 goals allowed per game is the top in the nation, while his 93.7 save percentage is third in Division I rankings.

Cornell's defensive emphasis is most noticeable after the Big Red get ahead on the scoreboard. When scoring first, Cornell is 13-0-2. This does not bode well for the Tigers, who are 0-10-0 when their opponents strike first.

Fading Raiders

Princeton hosts Colgate on Saturday night. The Raiders were atop the ECACHL standings for the majority of the season, but a 1-3-1 record in their last five games has dropped them down a couple spots. They currently rest three points behind Cornell in second place.

Though Colgate leads the overall series, 42-34-6, Princeton claims the greatest success at home, holding a 21-18-4 advantage. The Tigers can end their recent winless drought against an otherwise strong Colgate team that has also been struggling as of late.

Junior goaltender Eric Leroux will be an integral part in stemming the Colgate offense, which is led by center Tyler Burton and left-winger Jon Smyth. In 14 games, Leroux has a 3.46 goals against average and .900 save percentage, recording a 4-8-2 record in the process. The Raiders' goalie Steve Silverthorn actually tops Leroux, garnering an impressive 1.91 goals against average while stopping the puck .918 percent of the time.