With the victory, the Big Green (6-7-1, 3-6-1 ECAC) managed to snap their three-game losing streak. Clarkson, (11-7-1, 6-3-0 ECAC) who entered the game as the ECAC leaders, fell to third in the league with the loss.
Devine believes that the team's mental preparation was the key to victory.
"Everybody came out ready to play," Devine said. "That's been a problem all year whether it was young guys or seniors who didn't come out ready to play."
With the victory over Clarkson, Devine got his 41st career win, which puts him in second place for career wins in Dartmouth history. Offensively, J.T. Wyman '08 led the Big Green with one goal and two assists. Nick Johnson '08 and Evan Stephens '11 also came out with two assists, while Jon Grecu '08 and Kyle Reeds '11 each scored one goal. Reeds, who has had an impressive freshman campaign, notched his fourth goal of the season.
While Devine's performance was impressive, he credited the victory to the team as a whole.
"I just try to play well and give my team a chance to win," Devine said. "We all just played strong, it's all a team effort. It's good to have the whole team really play hard."
In the first period, both teams played well offensively, putting Devine and Clarkson's senior goaltender David Leggio under constant pressure. It was the Big Green who got the first chance of the game on a power play, but Dartmouth could not capitalize on the opportunity. Rob Pritchard '09 slapped a hard shot across the net and Stephens was right there for the rebound, but his shot hit the post and the game remained scoreless.
The Golden Knights responded with a dangerous slap-shot to the high right corner net, but Devine managed to get a glove on the puck, eliminating Clarkson's chance to score.
Following another save by Devine on one of Clarkson's five power play opportunities, the Big Green got its offense going, as the Dartmouth men fired four bullets at Leggio, who proved up to the challenge. Both teams saw their fair share of chances in the first period, but neither offense could get the crucial first goal.
Building off the momentum earned at the end of the first, Dartmouth's freshman duo of Andrew Owsiak '11 and Matt Reber '11 began the second period with two opportunities at goal. However, the shot by Owsiak found the pole and Reber's shot was saved by Leggio as the Big Green men were denied yet again.
Dartmouth's relentless offensive pressure would pay off when Grecu, who had just returned to the game following a penalty, lit up the red lamp for the first time in the game and left Leede Arena shaking when fans erupted into cheers. During a three-on-one fast break, Wyman settled a pass from across the ice by Johnson. Wyman held the puck long enough to force Leggio to commit to the right side before calmly passing the puck to Grecu, who slotted the puck into the empty portion of the net.
In the third period, Clarkson leveled the game by taking advantage of a power play, and the Golden Knights' perseverance paid off. The Clarkson men fired multiple shots on Devine, who managed to stave off one shot after another, but was eventually beaten by Golden Knight Steve Zalewski, who fired the puck past Devine's outstretched leg. For Zalewski, Clarkson's leading scorer, it was his ninth goal on the season.
However, Dartmouth would not let a chance to defeat a ranked opponent on its home ice slip away. Shortly after the Clarkson score, Reeds picked up the game-winning goal by redirecting a Wyman shot in front of goal to put the Big Green ahead for good.
With one minute left, Dartmouth put the nail in the coffin when Clarkson pulled their goalkeeper, which allowed Wyman to get an empty-net goal from the neutral zone.
Devine hopes that this victory can turn around the Big Green's fortunes.
"Obviously it was huge," Devine said of the win. "You know it's the best team in our league. It was huge for our confidence, believing were a good team."
After a game on Sunday, Jan. 13 at Leede Arena against St. Lawrence, the Big Green men will be back in action on Tuesday, Jan. 15.
