Quinnipiac’s Mike LaRocca evened the score at 2:50 of the final period as Holy Cross and Quinnipiac skated to a 3-3 tie Friday evening at the Hart Center Ice Rink.
Second-place Quinnipiac (13-11-3, 11-5-3 MAAC) still leads Holy Cross (13-11-4, 10-7-4 MAAC) by one point in the standings.
John Bombard put the Crusaders ahead 1-0 when he collected a rebound in front on the QU net and fired it past goalie Jamie Holden at 4:03 of the opening period.
Matt Craig tied the game at 1-1 at 6:18 when he carried the puck from behind the Crusaders’ goal and scored on a wraparound. Tony Deluzio scored his fifth power play goal of the season to put the Crusaders ahead 2-1 heading into the first intermission. Andrew McKay and JR Walker were credited with the helpers.
The league’s most potent power play netted its second special-teams goal of the night when McKay scored at 4:57 of the second stanza to open up a two-goal advantage for Holy Cross. But Quinnipiac closed the gap to 3-2 when Brian Herbert sent a one timer past Derek Cunha during a power play at 13:45.
Both teams were held scoreless for the remainder of the period and through the overtime session.
Cunha stopped 24 shots for the Crusaders, including four in overtime. Holden made 24 saves for QU.
The two teams return to action Saturday evening when they conclude their home-and-home series at the Northford Ice Pavilion in Hamden, CT. Faceoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
