Two of the four series in the ECAC went to three games this weekend, with Clarkson and Dartmouth both winning Sunday to advance. The Big Green were the only road team to win this weekend, rallying for a 5-4 win against Rensselaer. It was the first time Dartmouth won when trailing after two periods in almost two years.
Here are the upcoming second-round series, including a national title game rematch in Hamden.
No. 10 Dartmouth at No. 1 Union
No. 8 St. Lawrence at No. 2 Colgate
No.6 Yale at No. 3 Quinnipiac
No. 5 Clarkson at No. 4 Cornell
Clarkson advances; RPI’s struggles continue
The Golden Knights hadn’t won an ECAC playoff series in seven years. That streak appeared to in danger of continuing after No. 12 Princeton won in overtime Friday. But Clarkson rolled 4-0 in Game 2, and then edged the Tigers 3-2 in the deciding game. Sunday’s game was the Golden Knights’ 20th win of the season, the first time the program has reached that mark since the 2007-08 season.
While Clarkson will make the trip south to Ithaca to face Cornell in round 2, the Engineers end the season with another disappointing home playoff defeat.
RPI hasn’t won a playoff series in Troy since 2004, when the Engineers swept Princeton in the opening round.
Bulldogs headed to Washington
Yale’s longest road trip this week won’t be for a game. The Bulldogs are set to head to the White House Monday afternoon to be recognized for the program’s first national title last season. They’ll be recognized by President Obama along with Minnesota, last year’s women’s championship. The event is open to the press and will streamed live on www.whitehouse.gov/live.
So long
It’s the end of the line for Harvard, RPI, Princeton and Brown. None of these teams are in any sort of position for an at-large bid, meaning the long offseason begins for the players and coaching staffs. Of course, it could be the start of some players’ professional careers, as seniors start to sign with NHL teams following the end of their collegiate season.
