No one ever said it was going to be easy for Dartmouth men's hockey. But does it need to be this hard?
Coming into the season's final series with St. Lawrence and Clarkson the Big Green sit in fifth place, teetering on the brink of home-ice advantage for the playoffs. For a team like the Big Green, who thrives on the Thompson Arena ice, this is a huge factor.
"We need to come out this weekend and play like we know how," said Chris Baldwin '02. "We have been playing very well at home this year and there is no better time to keep up that trend than this weekend."
The significance of this weekend is clear. It can mean the difference between a best-of-three series in an unfamiliar arena with hostile fans, or at home in Thompson, where the Big Green has compiled a 9-4-0 record.
While making the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 1978-79 and1979-80 is a proud accomplishment for the Boys in Green, home-ice would sweeten the deal even more.
Since the middle of the pack in the ECAC is tight -- four points separate the third through eighth place teams -- the possibilities for playoff match-ups are cloudy. However, the Big Green has one option which is very clear -- win both games.
What stands in the way of the Big Green and smooth sailing into the first round of the playoffs are St. Lawrence and Clarkson, two of the premier teams in the ECAC.
Clarkson and St. Lawrence, ranked 10th and 13th respectively, both come into the weekend on hot streaks. The Golden Knights have won five straight while the Saints are victorious in six of their last seven.
On the other hand, Dartmouth cooled off a bit last weekend. The Big Green secured a playoff sport with a 1-1 tie at Princeton, but dropped a 6-3 decision to Yale the next night.
This weekend, the Big Green look to get back on track just in time for the playoffs, when the stakes are higher. Just how they will fare against the best teams in the league is anybody's guess, but there is no doubt the Big Green will be playing to win.
"We are going to come out of this weekend having either earned a home ice playoff series, or we will come up short and have to go on the road," captain Mike Byrne '01 noted. "I think this team is going to strive under those circumstances and send a message throughout the league that will create some momentum for us in the playoffs."
In the week
end series with the two upstate powers earlier in the season, Dartmouth salvaged one point. At Clarkson, the Knights potted three goals in the middle period to put away the Big Green, 4-3. Junior forward Matt Poapst was Dartmouth's nemesis as he scored two on the game, including the game winner in the second. The next night, powered by two goals from Mike Murray '03, the Big Green picked up a well-deserved point in a 2-2 tie with the Saints.
The second time around, Dartmouth looks to emerge from the weekend with a little more than just a point. The fact that this time it is at home, may provide the needed boost for the Big Green to meet success this weekend.
One thing must happen if this weekend is to be a happy one for Coach Bob Gaudet '81 and his troops -- they must come out ready to play.
The numbers don't lie. The Big Green sports a 7-0-3 record when leading after a period. It is clear Dartmouth is not a come-from-behind squad.
If they can hit their opponents fast and hard this weekend, there is little doubt who will emerge the winner. Backed by the stellar goaltending of Nick Boucher '03, Dartmouth knows how to play with a lead.
Boucher will be the key factor this weekend. After an anomaly at Yale last weekend, where he allowed five goals, smart money is on Boucher rebounding and putting on his usual show this weekend.
As if this weekend didn't mean enough already, it will have added meaning to three members of the team. Seniors Byrne, Peter Mahler, and Dory Tisdale will all lace their skates at Thompson for what could be the last time. With home-ice hanging in the balance, and the chance to play a home playoff series for the first time in their collegiate career, these three will have extra incentive to win.
Dartmouth cannot underestimate their opponents this weekend if they hope to win. Nevertheless, a confident attitude entering the game seems to be the presiding feeling.
"I think these two teams [Clarkson and St. Lawrence] have proven themselves to be the odds-on favorite in most of the games they have played this year," Byrne said. "However, I wouldn't bet against us when we are playing at Thompson Arena."
The Big Green will test just how strong the lure of Thompson is tonight as they take on the first-place St. Lawrence at 7:00.
