LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Third-seeded Clarkson and seventh-seeded Princeton are set to get underway in just over an hour at the Herb Brooks Arena .
Both teams are looking to snap lengthy title droughts; Clarkson last won the Whitelaw Cup in 2007, while Princeton did so in 2008.
The Tigers were impressive yesterday against Cornell in the early game, bottling up the Big Red for long stretches in a 4-1 win. The Golden Knights trailed 4-1 early in the third period against Harvard, but scored three times in less than four minutes and then won the game on Sheldon Rempal’s overtime goal. The win all but locked up an NCAA tournament berth for Clarkson, but coach Casey Jones said after the game that his team’s focus is on winning the league title. Princeton must win tonight or its season is over.
There were plenty of Golden Knights fans in the crowd last night, and the building really came alive a Clarkson mounted its comeback. Based on the number of people I saw around town today in Clarkson apparel, there should be an equally large, if not bigger, contingent of Golden Knights fans.
I am honestly unsure of which team to pick tonight. Princeton has been playing incredible and the Tigers are bursting with confidence after knocking off the top two teams in ECAC Hockey the last weekends. But Clarkson had an incredible comeback and will have the crowd in its favor. I think I’m leaning slightly towards the Golden Knights, but again I wouldn’t be surprised either way.
Clarkson wins 4-3
