Harvard Takes Game One in ECAC Hockey Quarterfinals

Friday, March 11

Hanover, N.H.

7:00 PM

Dartmouth College

HARVARD

Harvard Takes Game One in ECAC Hockey Quarterfinals

3/11/2011 9:13:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

By: Dartmouth

HANOVER, N.H. - The Dartmouth men's hockey found itself with lots of chances but still on the losing end of a 3-2 score against Harvard on Friday night in the first game of the ECAC quarterfinals. The Big Green will look to even things up in the best-of-three series tomorrow night in Thompson Arena at 7 p.m.

Alex Killorn put the visitors on the board early in the contest on a power play strike that had less then a minute to go in the penalty. The Crimson worked the puck around but the Dartmouth defense did a great job getting sticks down and blocking pucks. But the brother combination of Michael and Danny Biega were able to get the puck down low to Killorn for the junior's 15th of the season and the first score of the game.

A 4-on-4 situation had Adam Estoclet (Orono, Minn.) tying things up with four minutes left in the period after play broke down in the Harvard end and Doug Jones (Marietta, Ga.) wound up with the puck on his stick against the far boards. He passed across to a streaking Estoclet who worked the puck around and shot a little high over goalie Ryan Carroll for the equalizer.

A slow roller by the Crimson gave Harvard the lead with 2:45 left in the frame. Conor Morrison's shot from the point was deflected through a screen, glancing off Alex Fallstrom's skate as netminder James Mello (Rehoboth, Mass.) was not able to see or stop the puck before it glided between his knees.

Michael Del Mauro gave Harvard its largest lead of the night late in the second period after he one-timed a pass from Michael Biega. Del Mauro put it past Mello who hadn't even looked back over his shoulder at Del Mauro as the puck sailed in behind him.

With 2:34 left in the contest, head coach Bob Gaudet pulled Mello in favor of the extra skater. That jolt gave the Big Green some life as Dartmouth pounded the puck in on Carroll with Scott Fleming (Plainfield, Ont.) able to cash in with 1:26 left to play. Jones and Dustin Walsh each assisted.

Despite four straight shots on net as the seconds ticked off, the Big Green were unable to find the back of the net with the tying goal. Dartmouth had its chances throughout the night as Matt Reber (Edina, Minn.) along with Dustin and Nick Walsh (Shannonville, Ont.) each had numerous opportunities. Reber began the contest on a give-and-go with Kyle Reeds (St. Louis, Mo.) but his shot hit Carroll's arm as the goalie was able to snatch the puck. Dustin Walsh hit the pipe while his brother Nick saw his shot go just wide on an open net.

Mello finished with 28 saves while Carroll had 27 for the Crimson.

Dartmouth now has its back against the wall as the Big Green needs to win tomorrow night to force a third game in the series.