Entering the weekend, RPI had lost its last five games against ranked opponents. You’d have to go back to February 2004 at Brown to find the last victory against such opponents. The team had dropped a close one to St. Lawrence, and was dominated by Boston University, Vermont, Colgate and Cornell.
RPI looked to avenge those latest two losses this past weekend, hitting the road to central New York. The No. 4 Big Red and No.12 Raiders, however, were having none of it; RPI suffered shutout defeats to each team, 3-0 and 1-0.
Diminutive forward Topher Scott had a pair of assists for Cornell, and three different players scored. The story of the game, however, was Cornell’s trademark stingy defense and even stingier goaltending. Cornell has only allowed 24 goals in 20 conference games, and Big Red goaltender David McKee leads the nation in goals-against average and shutouts, and is second in save percentage.
“I thought our defense did a great job,” said Big Red coach Mike Schafer. “But our forwards did a good job tonight; I think we gave up one outnumbered situation early on, and Dave made a huge save for us to keep the game 0-0. Other than that, I think we didn’t give them many outnumbered situations for the rest of the night.
“That’s a tribute to the defense, obviously, but it’s also a tribute to the forwards not throwing the puck blind and not turning it over, and not giving any free opportunities. The defense played solidly, but our forwards don’t often get credit for the job they do.”
RPI put up a fight in the first period. After a few minutes of Cornell puck possession, the Engineers were able to keep the puck in the Cornell zone for decent amounts of time. Seven minutes into the period, Jonathan Ornelas had a quality shot and a rebound chance blocked. Four minutes later, RPI got three consecutive quality scoring chances, by Kevin Croxton, Kirk MacDonald, and Croxton again.
Cornell finally got on the board with two minutes left in the period, right as its first power play of the game expired. Defenseman Charlie Cook fired an off-balance shot that fluttered lightly through the air and past Andrew Martin’s glove. “I don’t even think [Martin] saw it,” said RPI coach Dan Fridgen.
As the game progressed, it began to become more physical and much tighter defensively. “I’m not surprised; that’s just the way they play, especially at home,” remarked Fridgen. “I said that before coming in here. Space is going to be at a premium out there. Offensive opportunities are going to be limited; I thought we had some good opportunities—didn’t capitalize—but I thought we had some good opportunities.”
Cornell, however, took advantage of its opportunities. Daniel Pegoraro carried the puck over the blue line in a 3-on-2 situation. He hit Shane Hynes with a drop pass, and screened Martin on his way to the net. Hynes fired the puck over Martin’s stick to double the lead. Big Red captain Mike Knoepfli scored from the point on a power play late in the second for the 3-0 lead.
The physical side of the game didn’t offer much in the way of penalties—RPI had no power plays in the game. Vic Pereira and Byron Bitz took a pair of matching minors in the third, but the game was very chippy at some points. “They have a solid, physical team,” said Schafer of RPI. “There were lots of big hits out there—both ways—but, those are the kind of games that our team relishes playing in; a strong, tough hockey game. We’re built for that type of event. So, it was a good game for us.”
The Engineers looked to rebound against Colgate, but had no such luck. Jon Smyth scored the only goal of the game for the Raiders after taking a drop pass from Tyler Burton on the power play. He ripped a fast wrist shot that beat Martin and found the twine.
That power play was set up by a questionable call by referee Tim Kotyra. Colgate brought the puck in on a two-on-one, and defenseman Blake Pickett went from skating backward to sliding on the ice to break the play up. He did break the play up, but took out a Colgate player in the process and was whistled for tripping.
Despite being shut out, RPI had numerous chances. Kirk MacDonald batted a loose puck out of the air and nearly scored, but goalie Steve Silverthorn swatted it away with his glove. The Engineers’ best chance of the game came late in the third; Kevin Broad had a wraparound attempt saved, and Pereira leveled the Colgate player attempting to clear the puck. Jake Luthi pinched from the point and ripped a shot, but it went right into Silverthorn’s chest.
The scoreless weekend marked the first time RPI had been shut out in back-to-back games since last year’s playoffs at Dartmouth. The weekend also symbolized RPI’s scoring woes; the Engineers have now been shut out six times this season.
RPI closes out its regular season schedule at home against Princeton and Yale this weekend. RPI can still get a home playoff series with a sweep, a pair of Union losses, and a pair of Clarkson losses. In that scenario, Rensselaer would host the hated Golden Knights.
