Twenty-four hours after the biggest win of their season, the Quinnipiac Bobcats (11-13-4 overall, 6-8-2 ECAC Hockey) looked like they were heading back to lackluster ways of old after allowing an early goal to the last-place St. Lawrence Saints (6-20-2, 2-13-1 ECAC Hockey). Those questions were quick to fade, however, as they reeled off four goals in just under ten minutes to easily push them past the Saints, 5-2.
Fresh off of an upset win against No. 3 Clarkson, the Bobcats were looking to capitalize on their momentum and record their first weekend sweep since before the winter break. However, just five minutes in, the Bobcats allowed St. Lawrence forward Alex Gilmour sneak behind the entire defense and beat goalie Andrew Shortridge to the top left, giving the Saints an early 1-0 lead. For the Bobcats, this seemed like “déjà vu all over again”—they’ve struggled with preventing early goals, and they’ve had trouble clawing out of early deficits. But head coach Rand Pecknold was not worried when he saw his team go behind early.
“I liked our demeanor on the bench when we went down 1-0. I thought there was no panic. We handled adversity really well tonight,” Pecknold said. “This year, it’s been an issue, but tonight it was great. The guys felt comfortable and confident, and we battled through it.”
The Bobcats certainly did battle through it, as they pulled off something they hadn’t done all season; four goals in ten minutes, including two from senior forward Bo Pieper, and Quinnipiac went into the first intermission with a commanding 4-1 lead.
The second period allowed for more of the same from the Bobcats, as they lit the lamp again, this time from sophomore defender Brogan Rafferty—his second of the game. Andrew Shortridge stayed brilliant, and despite allowing a second goal to Gilmour in the third period, the Bobcats were able to cruise to their second win in two days.
“We battled hard. St. Lawrence got that early goal, they executed going down, it was tough. But I thought the guys were ready, they played with a lot of passion and a lot of care, and it’s nice to get the sweep at home again this weekend,” Pecknold said on the weekend series.
The Bobcats saw production from players who don’t typically get on the score sheet, including Brogan Rafferty, who tallied two goals and an assist to earn tonight’s first star.
“My preparation is something I try to keep the same every game…The one, I got lucky, John Furgele made a nice pass and I just shot it on the ice,” Rafferty said on his unlikely production tonight. “I think it hit something and went into the net, but I’ll take that one. Then [Odeen] Tufto made a great pass backdoor, which he’s been doing all year long, and I was just lucky enough to bury it.”
The Bobcats will look to continue their hot streak when they travel to crosstown rival Yale on Friday. Quinnipiac will be looking to sweep the season series against the Bulldogs, and puck drop is set for Friday, February 9, at 7 p.m. in Ingalls Rink.
