For the first time since the 2013 NCAA National Championship game in Pittsburgh, the Yale Bulldogs defeated the Quinnipiac Bobcats in a game as they won 3-2 on Friday night at Ingalls Rink in New Haven to snap an 0-7-3 skid against their Whitney Avenue rivals. Yale's last regular season win over Quinnipiac dates back almost seven years when they won at Quinnipiac 6-1 on February 18, 2011 and the Bulldogs last home win over Quinnipiac since October 6, 2010 when they beat Quinnipiac 5-1.
While the Bobcats came out on the short end tonight it was another terrific night for freshman star Odeen Tufto with a goal and an assist to give him his 12th multi point game of the season. The Quinnipiac power play also excelled with both of the team's goal coming by way of the man advantage.
Junior Ted Hart was the star for the Bulldogs tonight but it was the Quinnipiac struggles of the second half of the second period that will come back to bite. Hart scored two goals three minutes apart turning a 2-1 Yale deficit into a 3-2 lead which they would not relinquish.
Yale sophomore Billy Sweezey scored his second career goal just over halfway into the opening period. In the final minute of the first Quinnipiac's Brandon Fortunato (1 goal, 1 assist) found the puck down low in the slot a fired one high stick side past Yale goaltender Sam Tucker on the power play. Once again in the second period Quinnipiac found itself on the power play when Odeen Tufto ripped one short-side past Tucker.
Keith Petruzzelli (27 saves) made many highlight reel saves especially in the second and third periods to keep the score close for Quinnipiac. The freshman flashed a quick glove along with strong pad saves and quick lateral movement in the crease showing why the Detroit Red Wings made him a 3rd round pick in the 2017 draft.
The chippy game featured 14 combined penalties including two embellishment calls. Chase Priskie and Bo Pieper each finished with an assist each as Quinnipiac fell to 11-14-4 (6-9-2 ECAC) and 9th in the conference standings while Yale with the win improves to 12-11-1 (7-9-1 ECAC) and is in 8th place, one point ahead of Quinnipiac for the final home ice spot. Quinnipiac now heads to Providence, Rhode Island tomorrow when they face Brown University at Meehan Auditorium.