Princeton takes series to advance

Redemption. After seven years without a playoff series victory and 17 postseason games without a win, it took the Tigers just one weekend and three games to exorcize their demons.

A 4-3 victory on Sunday night capped a thrilling weekend for Princeton (15-14-3 overall, 10-10-2 Eastern College Athletic Conference Hockey League) as they defeated Brown (11-15-6, 6-12-4) to advance to the quarterfinals of the ECACHL playoffs. After losing the first game of the best-of-three series, Princeton stormed back, winning two consecutive games to overcome Brown.

"It seems like every couple weeks we do something that we haven't done in a while," senior forward Grant Goeckner-Zoeller said. "Just to be able to defend your house and play strong against a very good team ... it's a big step that the program can build on."

The weekend began inauspiciously for Princeton, as Brown scored a power-play goal just one minute and 22 seconds into the first period of the first game. Brown's opening goal would be an indicator of what was to come as the Tigers spent much of the game skating in and out of the penalty box. The Tigers' 12 penalties, coupled with an unusually pedestrian penalty-kill, ultimately led to their 4-3 downfall.

After being shut down by Brown's freshman goaltender Dan Rosen in the opening period, Princeton scored two second-period goals in quick succession to give them a brief 2-1 lead. The Tigers didn't have much time to enjoy their lead, however, as the Bears responded less than two minutes later, tying the game at two.

After Brown regained the lead in the third period with yet another power-play goal, Princeton answered back once more. With just 3:07 remaining, senior defenseman Daryl Marcoux scored off a rebound to knot the score, 3-3.

Though the Bears failed to convert a power play that carried over from the third period, the Tigers were unable to recover from their shorthanded start to overtime and Brown forward Sean Muncy stuffed in a rebound for the win at 1:24 into the extra frame.

The following night, facing elimination, the Tigers started the game aggressively, outshooting Brown 15-4 in the first period. Shut out by Rosen in the first again, the Princeton squad was able to get on the board 13:31 into the second period, as freshman forward Cam MacIntyre scored his ninth goal of the season during a four-on-three power play.

Brown's goal two minutes later would be the last score in regulation, as the two teams headed to overtime with the score tied at one apiece.

Determined not to repeat the previous evening's disappointment, the Tigers quickly gained the upper hand at the start of overtime. Sophomore forward Lee Jubinville put a shot on Rosen from the right side but was rejected. Rosen, however, was unable to control the puck, and sophomore forward Brett Wilson was able to stuff it into the net to give the Tigers a 2-1 overtime victory.

The crowning achievement of the weekend, though, was the Tigers' series-clinching 4-3 victory Sunday night.

The Orange and Black was able to overcome a five-on-three power play midway through the first period, giving the team some much needed momentum. With just 1:36 remaining in the opening frame, Marcoux knocked in his second goal of the series.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

After Brown tied the game midway through the second period, Princeton answered back just 23 seconds later, as Jubinville netted his 10th goal of the season. The Tigers, however, were unable to hold their lead for long, as the Bears came roaring back, scoring two goals on senior goaltender B.J. Sklapsky to end the second period up 3-2. The second of the two goals came on a power play following one of the many questionable penalties called on the Tigers. Senior forward Darroll Powe and Wilson each received three penalties, somewhat hindering Princeton's offensive capabilities.

"We came back into the locker room [after the second period] and knew we were gonna have to give it our best 20 minutes of the year because our whole year was riding on it," Goeckner-Zoeller said.

Indeed, in the third period, the Tigers were the ones capitalizing on the penalties, as senior forward Kevin Westgarth fired a thundering slapshot past Rosen during a five-on-three power play to tie the game up at three apiece. A few minutes later, at 7:22 in the third, the Tigers went up for good. After receiving a perfect pass from freshman forward Mark Magnowski, Goeckner-Zoeller flipped the puck past Rosen, giving the Tigers the final 4-3 lead.

"For Grant to get that goal, it was absolutely fitting," head coach Guy Gadowsky said. "He's a guy who has a lot of confidence in his abilities and never gives up. Just knew he was gonna do something special."

Next weekend, the Tigers travel to Hanover, N.H., to face Dartmouth.