What some will argue is the biggest weekend of the hockey season ended on a mediocre note Saturday night, as the RPI men’s hockey team blew a 3-1 lead over league rival St. Lawrence late in the third period to cap a 0-1-1 weekend. With six minutes left in the third period, RPI held the 3-1 lead—but before the end of regulation, St. Lawrence managed to capitalize on two open outside shots and equalize the game. RPI seemed to have the momentum in overtime, but a roughing penalty put the Engineers on the defensive for the last two minutes, and the game ended in a tie.
Amidst the furor of Freakout! the Engineers found themselves down a goal 7:34 into the first period. St. Lawrence’s Mark Wallman deflected teammate Jordan Hack’s shot for the first score. However, with a sold-out crowd of 5,152 behind them, the Engineers managed to equalize the game when sophomore Andrei Uryadov finished a loose puck toward the end of the first period.
On a night when hockey alumni dating all the way back to 1938 were present, the Engineers established a 2-1 lead in the second period with a goal by junior Andrew Lord, and extended this lead to two goals early in the third when freshman Paul Kerins finished a wrist shot in a textbook attack.
The Engineers carried the 3-1 lead, as well as the advantage in shots on goal deep into the third period, and given the energy of the pulsing Field House at their backs, the defensive collapse that followed was unexpected to say the least.
A costly penalty late in the third period gave St. Lawrence a power play that they quickly capitalized on, with St. Lawrence’s Max Taylor coming through for the visitors and pumping his fist after he buried the shot. Less than a minute after that, St. Lawrence captain Kyle Rank tied the game with another outside shot and the defensive breakdown was complete.
In the grand scheme of things, a tie against St. Lawrence is acceptable. They are ranked 19th in the nation, and although a win would have been considerably better, the tie remains a positive. Saturday night’s tie leaves a sour taste in the Engineers fans’ mouths because of what should have been. It’s the context that gets us. In any event, a tie is a tie, it could have been better, it certainly could have been worse.
On Friday night, it unfortunately was worse. In the precursor to Saturday night’s Freakout! festivities, the Engineers suffered a tough loss to arch-rival Clarkson. After dominating the 1st period, but still lingering in a scoreless tie, the Engineers encountered a fierce Golden Knights attack early in the 2nd period as Clarkson quickly scored two goals. Oren Eizenman brought the Engineers within one at the 14:21 mark, but Clarkson quickly reestablished its two goal lead via Steve Zawlewski, and the game was all but decided. Clarkson’s fourth goal was an open net with 1:25 remaining in the game.
RPI fans throughout the Field House disagreed with many of the calls during the game and let the referees know it. Many controversial calls seemed to go in favor of Clarkson, and may have done its share in taking the wind out of the Engineers’ sails. But of course, teams win and lose games, not officials.
This weekend’s events at the Field House include more than just a pair of hockey games, however. At first intermission on Saturday night, members of the Engineers alumni from 2005 all the way back to 1938 were paraded onto the ice to cheers and applause from the Field House faithful. Appreciation was shown for all, and some of the more recent and familiar faces to the current student body got quite a reception.
The weekend also gave witness to the return of Puckman. Absent for most of the fall, the beloved mascot of Rensselaer hockey returned touting a new outfit and renewed energy. His return will surely bring back some old fashioned tradition and spirit to the Field House.
Of note is that with the tie, the Engineers have run their Freakout! unbeaten streak to 17 games with 12 wins and 5 ties. It is apparent that the team plays better with a pulsing Field House crowd behind them as one would expect. So with that, as the Engineers go down the stretch, they’re going to need all the help they can get. Get up to the Field House every chance you get, and support your team. Go Red!
