PRINCETON, N.J. (11/20/12) - The Princeton men's hockey team will face non-conference opponents for the first time this weekend when it travels to Sacred Heart and UMass-Lowell. The Tigers will play the Pioneers at Webster Bank Arena on Friday, Nov. 23 at 4 p.m., and at the Tsongas Center against the River Hawks on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 4 p.m.
EYE ON THE TIGERS
Princeton is 2-3-1 overall and in the middle of a seven-game road stretch. The Tigers had a three-game unbeaten streak come to an end on Saturday in a 7-2 loss at Clarkson after wins over No. 4 Cornell, Colgate and a tie versus No. 16 St. Lawrence. Princeton averages 2.83 goals per game and allowing 3.00 gpg. The Tigers have the fourth-best power play in the nation, converting seven of 27 chances for 25.9 percent.
Sophomore Tyler Maugeri and junior Andrew Calof are tied atop the scoring column with eight points each. Maugeri has scored a team-high five goals with three assists, while Calof leads the team in assists with five while adding three goals. Senior defenders Michael Sdao and Eric Meland, along with junior Andrew Ammon have added five points apiece. Senior netminder Mike Condon has started all six games. He has a 2.97 goals against average and an .887 save percentage. Junior Sean Bonar made his first appearance in goal against Clarkson, making five stops on six shots in just under 20 minutes.
THE PRINCETON/SACRED HEART SERIES
Princeton and Sacred Heart have met just one time, on Jan. 25, 2011. The Tigers won a 7-1 game at Hobey Baker Rink. Senior Eric Meland had a three-point game in that outing with a goal and two assists.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Sacred Heart comes into Friday’s game with a 0-9-2 record. The Pioneers most recently tied American International 2-2 on Nov. 17. Sacred Heart is averaging 2.09 gpg and allowing 4.73. The Pioneers power play has struggled, scoring just four times on 46 chances for 8.7 percent. Their penalty kill sits at 75.6 percent killing 31 of 41 infractions.
Senior Eric Delong and sophomore Brian Sheehan each have nine points on four goals and five assists apiece. Sophomores Drew George and Nick Curry contributes six points. Sacred Heart has used three different netminders. Senior Steven Legatto has played in seven games and has a 3.97 GAA and an .890 save percentage. Sophomore Andrew Bodnarchuk has made six appearances and has a 5.13 GAA and an .876 save percentage. Rookie Fredrik Melander has seen the least time, a little more than 67 minutes.
THE PRINCETON/UMASS LOWELL SERIES
UMass Lowell holds a 4-3 edge in the all-time series that began on Dec. 28, 1988. The River Hawks won the first four meetings, but the Tigers have won the last three, including a sweep in Dec. 2010, 5-2 and 7-2. The series is tied 1-1 when playing in Lowell. Senior Eric Meland leads all Tigers in points against Lowell with two goals and three assist in four games. Junior Andrew Ammon has three goals in two games. Both goalies, Mike Condon and Sean Bonar have played against the River Hawks. Bonar is 1-0 with 16 saves on 18 shots, while Condon is 1-1 with 47 saves on 52 shots.
SCOUTING THE RIVER HAWKS
UMass Lowell is 3-5-1 overall and 2-4-1 in Hockey East. The team most recently handed UMass an 8-2 loss in Amherst. Four of the team’s losses came to the top-3 ranked squads in the nation, Boston College, Denver and UNH. Outside of those games, Lowell is 3-1-1. The Hawks average 2.33 gpg and allow 2.67 gpg. Lowell is 5 of 37 on the power play (13.5%) and 27 for 36 on the penalty kill (75%).
Juniors Josh Holmstrom and Joseph Pendenza have each score four times and added three goals for seven points. Senior Riley Wetmore, junior Derek Arnold and sophomore Scott Wilson have contributed five points each, with Wetmore collecting a team-best five goals.
Junior Doug Carr has played in all nine games with eight starts. He has a 2.31 GAA and a .912 save percentage. Freshman Connor Hellebuyck provides backup, appearing in 50 minutes and allowing five goals on 28 shots.
