Bud Fisher’s 28 save 3-0 shutout gave the Quinnipiac Bobcats game one of the ECAC Quarterfinals at Starr Rink in Hamilton, N.Y.
“It was a big win for us tonight,” Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold said. “Our penalty kill was great, with Fisher being the main guy,” Pecknold said.
Fisher made important saves throughout the game to keep the Bobcats ahead.
“We came out strong and everyone was playing well,” said Fisher. “They limited Colgate’s chances and defensively we were strong.”
Colgate, ranked 17th in the nation, played with urgency, but couldn’t solve Fisher.
“They are an excellent hockey team,” Pecknold said. “I thought they played very well tonight and had a lot of chances.”
Senior Joe Dumais gave scored the game winner with six seconds remaining in the first period for the Bobcats.
“It was a face off play we put in yesterday,” said Pecknold. “It was something we have been saving for the playoffs and it was a big goal.”
On the face off, Mike Bordieri won the draw and to Dumais who rifled the shot into the top corner over Colgate goaltender Mark Dekanich’s glove side.
Colgate came out more aggressive in the second and appeared to have tied it at one midway through the stanza. A Jon Smyth shot clanked off the underside of the crossbar, but was ruled no goal by the referee.
After a stoppage of play for over fifteen minutes to fix divider a in the boards, neither team could take advantage of the extended break. The two teams exchanged power plays for much of the period with neither team able to capitalize.
Colgate finished 0-for-9 on the power play thanks to strong penalty killing units.
“We know they have good shooters at top and we wanted to take them out of the plays,” freshman Chris Walsh said. “Bud was our best defender making unbelievable saves.”
The Bobcats controlled the momentum out of the second intermission with a rebound goal by Chris Myers. Bobcat defenseman Andy Meyer intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and hit David Marshall. He went in alone on Dekanich, who made the save, but Myers was trailing on the play and buried home the rebound.
Fisher had help from his teammates to help preserve the shutout.
“The guys were getting in shooting lanes and keeping the pucks to the outside,” Fisher said. “They did a great job of that tonight.”
The Bobcats added an insurance goal by Ben Nelson for the three goal win.
Game two will be at Starr Rink tomorrow at 7 p.m.
“You always want to win the first game,” Pecknold said.
Colgate, the no. 2 seed in the ECAC playoffs, will look to make adjustments and score a victory tomorrow night.
“Colgate will rebound and come out and play tomorrow night,” Pecknold said.
