Connor Yau (6) and the Big Green handed Clarkson its first loss since October.
POTSDAM, N.Y. – Freshman Matt Baker scored two goals and the Dartmouth men’s hockey team knocked off No. 2 Clarkson, 3-2, Saturday night at Cheel Arena.
The Golden Knights had been on a 15-game unbeaten streak (14-0-1) coming into the game, but could not capitalize on a five-minute power play in the third period as the Big Green swept the North Country trip for the first time since 2013-14.
It was the second time this season that Dartmouth (8-10-2, 6-6-1 ECAC) knocked off a team ranked No. 2 in that week’s national polls as it had also gone on the road and beat Denver on Dec. 16.
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The Green handed Clarkson (18-4-2, 10-1-1 ECAC) not only its first conference loss of the season, but also their first defeat since an Oct. 28 game at Minnesota.
Making his first start since Dec. 9, sophomore netminder Adrian Clark came up huge, stopping 24 shots to earn just the second win of his career.
“We killed a major penalty and got a power-play goal in the third period, so special teams were huge for us,” head coach Bob Gaudet ’81 said. “They’re obviously a really good team, but we just kept working hard and good things happened again for us tonight. It all starts with us working hard.”
THE STREAK IS OVER!
— Dartmouth Hockey (@Dartmouth_MIH) January 21, 2018
FINAL: America's Team 3, No. 2 Clarkson...2 pic.twitter.com/yTAcIMAiI9
A day after his 23rd birthday, junior and team captain Kevan Kilistoff got the scoring started with a rebound at just 3:38 of the opening frame. Nico Sturm evened it with his 10th of the season at 11:21.
Baker’s first of the night came 52 seconds into the middle period and just after he missed an open net. He atoned for his misque by tapping in his seventh of the season on a great pass from Alex Jasiek at the halfboards just seconds later.
The one-goal lead lasted until 1:41 left in the period when Haralds Egle netted his second of the year and sent the game to the third, tied at two apiece.
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The lone goal of the final period was the biggest as Baker tipped a point shot at 6:47 on the power play, stationed near the top of the crease. The rookie continues to lead the team with eight goals this season.
The original attempt came from junior Connor Yau, who also assisted on the first Baker tally.
The third-ranked power play in the country coming into the game, Clarkson was unable to score on three opportunities, including the lengthy major midway through the third.
NO. 2 GOES DOWN!@Dartmouth_MIH with the 3-2 upset of second-ranked Clarkson. pic.twitter.com/dBBY5iuL2m
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) January 21, 2018
The Golden Knights’ Jake Kielly — the best goalie in ECAC Hockey statistically speaking coming into the weekend — stopped 19 in the loss.
The Green and White are home next weekend at Thompson Arena, playing host to Colgate and No. 4 Cornell on Friday and Saturday nights. Puck drop for both games is set for 7 p.m.
