In yesterday’s 4-0 game one loss to the Clarkson Golden Knights, Quinnipiac looked like a team that did not realize they were playing playoff hockey. Despite a 35-save performance from goaltender Dylan Silverstein, the Bobcats were not physical enough against a scrappy Golden Knights team. It was only the second time they had been shut out this year, and the first time at home since November 2024. They needed a win today to keep their dreams of a first Whitelaw Cup since 2016 alive.
Quinnipiac’s dreams would be dashed by a Clarkson team fighting for the right to play again this year, losing 4-3 in a rollercoaster of a game.
“I thought our passion was great tonight, but our details were poor, and we were an immature team,” said Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold.
Within the first two minutes of play, the Bobcats had two chances with an Antonin Verrault shot just over the crossbar and a point-blank shot by Victor Czerneckianair kicked away by Golden Knights goaltender Shane Soderwall.
Silverstein was also on point, controlling the puck during a mini-scrum at the left post of his net and saving a close-range shot by Rémi Gélinas. The physicality from last night’s game stayed with two teams today as players were tying up on both ends of the ice. Tyler Borgula and William Bishop were sent to the penalty box for hitting after the whistle. The Golden Knights continued to get the head of Ethan Wyttenbach, the nation’s leading point getter, with defenders knocking him down at every chance they got.
Quinnipiac would break the ice with 4:04 to go in the first as Markus Vidicek would tap in a goal on a pass from Wyttenbach, giving Quinnipiac its first goal and lead of the series. It was Vidicek’s 20th goal of the year and Wyttenbach’s 34th assist.
The Bobcats out shot the Golden Knights 22-10 in the first period, but Soderwall saved nine Bobcats shots while Silverstein saved five.
The second period was even more chippy and physical than the first. 10 total penalties were called a whole period’s worth of penalty minutes between both teams. A flurry would come in between the 17:08 and 11:49 marks. Luka Sukovic would head to the box for high-sticking closely followed by both Bryce Sookro and Vidicek for dueling slashing penalties. The Bobcats would go down to three men on the ice after penalties on Aaron Schwartz for interference and Sward for roughing.
With the five-on-three nearly killed off, Justin Côté would rocket a one-timer past Silverstein to tie the game at one. He was assisted by Taylor and Ty Brassington. As was the case the whole game, Clarkson’s physicality got in the heads of both the players and the Bobcat faithful. The Clarkson Pep Band echoed over M&T Bank Arena, supporting their team who was playing for their season.
The Bobcats were also unlucky with their shots. A clear attempt by a Clarkson defender whiffed and went right to the stick of Vidicek. He wound up all alone but the shot lasered wide of the net. Quinnipiac outshot Clarkson 14-6 in the middle frame, but none got past Soderwall.
If the third period of this game were a rollercoaster, it would be Kingda Ka. It seemed the Bobcats would end up alright in the end, despite the rough play, all thanks to Braden Blace. The sophomore defenseman would give Quinnipiac the lead back at the 3:01 mark of the third period, wristing a point-blank shot over the shoulder of Soderwall, assisted by Pelosi and Marcellus. 58 seconds later, he would wrist one from the blue line, through a crowd and into the back of the next. The building was jumping as the Bobcats took a 3-1 lead.
“He’s been great this year. He has really taken a jump,” Peckond said about Blace. “At times last year he was inconsistent, but there is lots of talent there and I give him credit.”
But Clarkson would not go away, keeping up intensity on defense and putting pressure on the Bobcats’ forecheck. With the Bobcats on a power play, Marcellus would lose the puck at the top of the zone and it would be taken by Shawn O’Donnell. All alone with only Silverstein to beat, he would wrist a shot into the net to cut the Quinnipiac lead to 3-2.
38 seconds later, with the Bobcats still holding the man advantage, Sukovic would bring the puck into the offensive zone. He would give the puck to Bargholtz, who found Mayich for a one-timer past the reach of Silverstein to tie the game at three, sending a shock through the crowd and the Bobcat bench. It was the first time the Bobcats had given up two short-handed goals since a 4-1 loss to North Dakota in the 2015 NCAA Regional Semifinal.
“To be up 3-1 late, on the power play, and give up two short-handed goals on the same power play, I don’t think that’s happened in the 32 years [that I’ve coached],” said Pecknold.
At the 14:21 mark, Bargholtz would bring the puck up, enter the slot, and fire one past Silverstein’s left side to give the Golden Knights a 4-3 lead with six minutes to go. What seemed to be a given win, now turned to disaster for Quinnipiac.
“Most of the time in the last 12 years, we put that game away,” Pecknold said. “It’s just ridiculous. I don’t want to use the term embarrassing. Ridiculous is a better word.”
The Bobcats would pull the goalie with three minutes left. Desperate attempts to tie the game would be cleared by a tough Clarkson penalty kill. The best opportunity came with under 30 seconds to go when Borgula had a wide open net but sent the puck wide.
The clock would run out, and the Bobcats would be eliminated from the ECAC Tournament. It is their first time missing out on a trip to Lake Placid since 2019.
“[Clarkson] played great both nights, they battled,” Pecknold said. “They found a way to win on the road so I give them credit.”
The Bobcats will have to wait to see their NCAA Tournament fate, as they will need an at-large bid. The brackets will be revealed Sunday, March 22, at 3 p.m.
“Right now, we need to process what I think is one of the craziest losses we’ve ever had, We’ll deal with [our tournament fate] later, I assumed we were playing tomorrow,” said Pecknold
