Penalty trouble cost the Clarkson University Hockey team in its first ECAC Hockey League (ECACHL) game of the year on the road as the Golden Knights lost to Brown 4-3 in Providence, RI on Friday night.
Things started out well enough for the Green and Gold against Brown as Clarkson grabbed a 2-1 first-period lead. For just the third time of the season the Knights scored first when junior Mike Sullivan (Stouffville, ONT) tallied his third of the season on a quick wrist shot from the slot at 4:48. Linemates Nick Dodge (Oakville, ONT) and David Cayer (Longueuil, QUE) assisted. Brown (1-2, 1-2) tied it at 14:01, but 72 seconds later freshman Shea Guthrie (Carleton Place, ONT) scored on a breakaway to give Clarkson the lead heading into the first-period break.
Penalties caught up to the Knights in the second period as the Bears capitalized twice on the man advantage to take a 3-2 lead through two periods. While on a five-minute power play, Brown tied it 2-2 at 1:33 and then went ahead with a 5-on-3 goal at 13:10.
At 6:55 of the third, Guthrie netted his second of the game and fifth of the season to make it 3-3. Sophomore defenseman Grant Clitsome (Gloucester, ONT) and freshman Chris D’Alvise (Mississauga, ONT) assisted. With 38 seconds left, however, Brown spoiled Clarkson’s comeback bid and scored again on the power play to pick up its third straight win over Clarkson.
The Bears, who were 3-of-11 on the power play, out shot the Knights 27-19. Sophomore David Leggio (Williamsville, NY) made 23 saves. Clarkson, which entered the game clicking at 25% on the power play, went 0-of-7 with the man-advantage.
Clarkson, which saw its unbeaten streak come to an end at four games (3-0-1), falls to 5-3-1 overall and to 1-1-1 in the conference. The Knights play Yale in New Haven, CT on Saturday. The Bulldogs (0-3, 0-3) lost to St. Lawrence, 7-5, on Saturday.
