By Rob Ciambra

In the first game of the home and home series between the Holy Cross Crusaders and the No. 9 Quinnipiac Bobcats, both teams came out ready to hit. The Bobcats ultimately came out on top thanks to a two-goal performance by Travis St. Denis (Trail, British Columbia), winning 4-2.

The first period was fruitless for both sides, though physical. Both Holy Cross and Quinnipiac served three penalties in the first frame alone.

The second period would prove to be more eventful than the scoreless, physical first. Holy Cross’s Tim Driscoll wasted no time in getting his team on the board, taking a Matt Vidal offering to the back of the net two minutes and 16 seconds into the period.

Castan Sommer added another for the Crusaders six and a half minutes later, despite being shorthanded, but it did not take long for the Bobcats to answer. St. Denis tipped a shot from junior Matthew Peca (Petawawa, Ontraio).

The Bobcats started the third period on the power play, but could not capitalize, but it did not slow them down. Senior Kellen Jones (Montrose, British Columbia) led a rush and knocked a loose puck home just as the Bobcats’ seventh power play expired to tie the game, 2-2.

Freshman Sam Anas (Potomac, Md.) continued his impressive start with a late goal, roofing a rebound with assists to the Jones twins to put the Bobcats ahead 3-2 with a little less than five minutes left in the third period.

St. Denis added his second of the game with under a minute to play, roofing a backhander over the glove of Crusaders goaltender Matt Ginn.

“It’s nice to get that monkey off my back,” said St. Denis of his two goals.

With St. Denis breaking through, the Bobcats will head home looking to continue to the offensive pressure.

Game 2 is back in Hamden on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Highpoint Solutions Arena. QBSN will have full coverage of the game, and you can get all of the information at theqbsn.com.