Dartmouth saw its defense and offense click together, beating Union 5-1 on Friday and RPI 6-3 the following night. With the victories, Dartmouth reached the .500 plateau for the first time this season.
The weekend featured two third-period offensive explosions for the Big Green, notably solid play from goaltender Mike Devine '08, four Dartmouth game misconducts versus RPI and a celebration of the Big Green's most accomplished men's hockey teams and players. Ironically, the latter two occurred in the same game.
While Dartmouth looked to honor some of its most distinguished alums, who were in attendance for Saturday's game against Rensselaer, the game turned dirty in the third period. After Tanner Glass '07 was tossed on a suspect hit-from-behind call in the opening frame, three of his teammates joined him in the locker room when two separate scuffles broke out in the final four minutes of play. An emotionally depleted Rensselaer team became a bit too physical for Dartmouth's liking towards the end of the game.
At 16:06, Eric Przepiorka '06 was entangled with Scott Romfo in the corner behind the RPI net. The two exchanged shoves until referees broke up the action and sent both players off the ice. Three minutes later, Jarrett Sampson '06 felt the brunt of a cheap shot at center ice which sent the senior's helmet flying. Big Green captain Mike Ouellette '06 and David Jones '08 immediately flew into a cluster of Engineers in defense of their teammate, starting an all-out scrum that took nearly a full minute for referees to undo. The crowd excitedly jumped to its feet for the two frays, while both teams' coaches looked visibly dismayed.
According to Ouellette, "RPI started taking liberties. You never like to see a game end like that, but we always have to get each other's back."
Nevertheless, the lead story of the weekend was, undoubtedly, Dartmouth's sweep of league opponents. Sitting in a tie for fifth place in the division prior to Friday's game against Union, the Big Green icers knew that two victories could only bring them closer to a first-round bye in the ECACHL playoffs -- given to the top four teams in the league -- and out of the doldrums of mediocrity.
Dartmouth jump-started its weekend with two quick goals versus Union from J.T. Wyman '08 and Grant Lewis '07. The Big Green carried its 2-0 advantage into the third period when the Dutchmen got on the board with a goal from Torren Delforte, ending Devine's bid for his first collegiate shutout.
There would be no comeback for Union, however, as Dartmouth countered with three unanswered goals to finish the game. Jones, John Gibson '09 and Przepiorka all lit the lamp in the final 13 minutes of regulation. For Gibson, it was the first goal of the freshman's career.
Devine continued to impress, notching 32 saves in a near-shutout and would improve his record to 9-6-1 with a win the following evening.
The freshmen line of Gibson, Connor Shields '09, Kevin Swallow '09 and Ryan Bellows '09 has been making waves as of late. Whether it can be labeled a surprise or just a sign of development, freshmen have made an undeniable offensive impact throughout Dartmouth's recent turnaround. Saturday's match-up with Rensselaer was no exception.
Dartmouth was again able to garner an early lead when Ouellette tallied his first goal in six games just four minutes into regulation. Then it was the freshmen's turn.
The "Nine Line," led by Shields, who has scored a point in each of Dartmouth's past five games, demonstrated its unprecedented comfort level when Gibson sent a quick pass over to Shields, who then redirected the puck over to Swallow. Swallow settled the puck with his skate and one-timed it past RPI's Mathias Lange. It was the first collegiate goal for the Michigan-native, but it would not be his last of the night.
The two teams would exchange the next three scores, as RPI pulled within one, 3-2, heading into the third period. Once more, the Big Green waited until the final frame to pull-away.
Lewis and Wyman each recorded their second goals of the weekend, while Swallow would seal the deal when Shields and Bellows assisted the streaking freshman. The 6-3 victory pulled Dartmouth into a tie with Harvard for the coveted fourth spot in the ECACHL.
"It was nice to get on the board early again," Ouellette said after the game. "It definitely gives us momentum and confidence that we use throughout the rest of the night."
Head coach Bob Gaudet pointed to the defensive end as the difference-maker throughout the weekend. "Our defense was outstanding," he said. "It's efforts like that that we'll need to get us through the rest of the season."
Ouellette agreed, saying, "Defense is the core of our team. We did a great job this whole weekend."
Swallow was just pleased to get his first collegiate goal -- and his second -- out of the way. "It's been nagging at me all year," he said.
The freshman also remarked on the veteran leadership that will hopefully help him and his teammates through the difficult schedule that awaits the Big Green.
"The seniors tell us that this is the time of the season that really counts," said the "Nine Line" member.
Saturday night was also highlighted by ceremonies honoring the greatest teams and individual players in Dartmouth hockey history. The first and second intermissions featured appearances by members of the '41-42 national championship squad, as well as All-Americans, hall-of-famers and Olympians who have graced the green and white. All participating alumni received a rousing standing ovation from the near-sellout crowd of 4,444.
Dartmouth resumes league action next weekend when the Big Green travels to Yale and Brown.
