Top-ranked opponents come calling

Harvard (23-1-0 overall, 18-0-0 ECAC Hockey) has been dominant all year, with its single loss coming to No. 2 New Hampshire on Dec. 14. In their previous matchup, the Tigers (12-8-5, 10-6-2) lost in heartbreaking fashion, as the Crimson came back from a one-goal deficit in the third period to win 3-2. Two two-man advantages doomed Princeton, as Harvard capitalized on the crucial mistakes.

The Crimson is led by junior forward Sarah Vaillancourt, who leads the conference with 43 points. Trailing Vaillancourt are junior forward Jenny Brine and senior defenseman Caitlin Cahow, who have 28 and 25 points, respectively. The Tigers will also have to figure out how to get the puck past Harvard goalie Christina Kessler, whose .82 goals-against average is by far the best in the conference.

Nevertheless, the Tigers are not fazed. “We’re ready for this weekend, and we’re ready for Harvard,” senior forward Brittany Salmon said. “I think that it will be a better game than what the statistics show.”

The Tigers have already topped a top-ranked team this season, defeating then-No. 1 New Hampshire on Nov. 11.

Tomorrow’s game will not be any easier for Princeton. No. 10 Dartmouth’s (13-7-5, 10-5-3) sophomore forward Jenna Cunningham is third in the conference with 37 points, and junior forward Maggie Kennedy is close behind with 30 points. The Big Green has scored 79 goals this year, trailing only Harvard and St. Lawrence in the conference.

In their first meeting, the Tigers lost to Dartmouth 4-3, as the Big Green came back from a 3-2 third-period deficit to topple Princeton. The Dartmouth and Harvard games came during an abysmal stretch at the start of the season when the Tigers won only one of their first six games. But Princeton has since bounced back to its current 12-8-5.

This weekend’s games should have a much different atmosphere, as Princeton comes into this weekend red-hot. The Tigers are currently on a seven-game winning streak, having lost only three of their last 12 games. While Princeton has already clinched a playoff spot, the team plans to keep the pedal to the metal through the end of the regular season.

“We’re not even thinking about [the playoffs] yet,” Salmon said. “We’re taking [it] one game at a time.”

Seeding for the playoffs is far from determined, and a strong end to the regular season may be crucial for the Tigers. Princeton, with 22 points, is only one point behind the Big Green and Clarkson. Good performances in the final two weekends of the regular season would easily bump the Tigers up to third place in the conference.

During this weekend’s games, the Tigers will participate in ECAC Hockey’s Pink At The Rink event, which will raise money for the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) fight against cancer. Over 200 game-worn items across the league are being auctioned off on a special website to raise money for the ACS, and home teams will wear pink jerseys this weekend to support cancer awareness and research.

“It’s a great event,” Salmon said. “It’s a good way to raise [cancer] awareness and to raise money … I think we’re going to raise quite a bit of money.”

For the Tigers, victories this weekend to elevate them in the league standings would make Pink At The Rink even sweeter.