Box Score

POTSDAM, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team scored four goals in the first period, including two from Nick Bailen and the Engineers went on to defeat Clarkson University, 5-1, in the first game of an ECAC Hockey First Round playoff series. In the victory the Engineers scored a season-high for goals in a game this season. They look to close out the best-of-three set on Saturday night at Cheel Arena. Gametime is 7pm.

RPI (11-21-3), the 10th seed, came back from an early deficit by scoring a season-best four goals in the opening frame, three of which came on power plays within a 3:55 span. Sophomore Matt Tinordi (Severna Park, MD/Olds Grizzlys) tied the game before Bailen (Fredonia, NY/Indiana Ice) scored twice. Captain Joel Malchuk (Brandon, MB/Dauphin Kings) made it a 4-1 game at the 12:17 mark.

The Golden Knights (15-16-6), the seventh seed, jumped out to the lead at 3:25 with an extra-man goal of their own when senior Nick Tremblay (Candiac, PQ/Smiths Falls Bears) took a pass from Allan McPherson (Kinburn, ON/Kanata Stallions) and scored past RPI netminder Bryce Merriam (Bethel Park, PA/Topeka RoadRunners) to complete a rush up the ice with his 16th goal of the season.

Rensselaer answered quickly when Tinordi tallied on a backhanded shot from in front of the crease. Freshman Ryan Haggerty (Stamford, CT/U.S. National Development Team) earned the primary assist by sending a pass from the near boards to Tinordi, who scored for the fifth time this season. The Engineers immediately went on its second power play at that point and Bailen made it a 2-1 score with a wrist shot from the high slot that found its way through traffic and into the back of the net at 6:33. Bailen scored again, this time through the goalie from the right faceoff circle, just 3:06 later for a 3-1 advantage. Malchuk completed the barrage when he deflected a Guy Lebeouf (West Palm Beach, FL/Cornwall Colts) point shot into the goal at the 12:17 mark.

In addition to Bailen, fellow defenseman Mike Bergin (Ottawa, ON/Smiths Falls Bears) registered a multiple point period as he picked up assists on RPI's second and third goals.

Freshman Jacob Laliberte (Rockland, ON/Cornwall Colts) scored the final goal of the game when he slammed a rebound of a Haggerty shot into the net at 17:32 of the second period. Haggerty set up the goal when he drove down the right side and around a defenseman, beating the Clarkson goaltender but hitting the post. Laliberte followed up the play and tallied his second point of the night. Matt Neal (Minesing, ON/Stoufville Spirit) also had an assist on the goal, his second helper of the contest.

Merriam, a junior, finished with 17 saves for RPI, which improved to 6-0-1 in its last seven road games. Senior Paul Karpowich (Thunder Bay, ON/Wellington Dukes) had 25 stops for the Golden Knights, who must win on Saturday in order to force a decisive third game on Sunday at 7pm.