Sophomore Brady Wiffen scored one of the four goals that led RPI to defeat Harvard.
TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team recorded three special teams goals and received a career-high 41 saves from sophomore goaltender in shutting out No. 2 Harvard University, 4-0, on Friday night at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Engineers improve to 4-19-0 (2-10-0 ECAC Hockey), while the Crimson drop to 11-3-1 (7-2-1 ECAC Hockey).
Perry registered his first career shutout, making 13 saves in the first period, 17 in the second and 11 in the third.
MH | @RPI_Hockey shuts out No. 2 Harvard, behind career-high 41 saves from Chase Perry! Wiffen scores shorthanded. #RPIHockey #ECACHockey pic.twitter.com/LWYam0seJe
— RPI Athletics (@RPIAthletics) January 14, 2017
Freshman Jacob Hayhurst opened the scoring at 2:38 of the first period, burying a low shot from the right circle for his sixth goal of the season. Junior Mike Prapavessis picked up the lone assist on the power play tally.
RPI doubled its lead with 0.6 seconds left in the first, when sophomore Brady Wiffen finished off a shorthanded breakaway, after poking a loose puck past senior Tyler Moy in the neutral zone. Wiffen snapped home his third of the season from right between the circles.
RANKINGS: USCHO.com | USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine
Sophomore Jesper Ohrvall capitalized on a long cross-ice feed from freshman Patrick Polino to give the hosts a 3-0 lead at 17:42 of the second period. Senior Parker Reno worked the puck of the right wing to Polino, who snapped a quick pass to Ohrvall in the left circle for the one-time finish.
Rensselaer capped the scoring with another late-period goal, as junior defenseman Jared Wilson ripped home a shot from the left point with 1.2 seconds on the clock. Helpers on his ninth goal of the season went to sophomore Evan Tironese and Wiffen.
Harvard junior netminder Merrick Madsen made 16 saves in the first two periods, before getting relieved by freshman Cameron Gornet, who stopped all 11 shots he faced in his first collegiate action.
RPI finished 2 for 3 on the power play, while holding the Crimson's top-ranked special teams until scoreless on five attempts.
