3 Elis Score, Lyon Makes 21 Saves

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Bulldogs, back in regular-season play for the first time since Dec. 6, had their best night of the season on the power play on the way to a 3-0 non-league win over Holy Cross before a packed house at the Hart Center.

Three different Yale players scored goals and Alex Lyon earned his first shutout of the season with 21 saves to end the Crusaders' wins streak at four games. The Bulldogs outshot Holy Cross 40-21 and converted two of five advantages to get a second straight win over the guys from Atlantic Hockey.

The Blue (7-3-2), which outshot the home team 19-7 in the first, got on the board first with a scoring play started and finished by Trent Ruffolo at 10:23. The senior forward intercepted a pass in the Crusader end and got the puck to the point for Rob O'Gara. The defenseman sent it low to Frankie DiChiara, who quickly flicked it off the goalie's pads. Ruffolo, crashing the net for the rebound, got it with an extended reach on his forehand as he was falling to the ice and tucked it into the net.  

"I was really pleased with the way we got out of the gate tonight. We play an up-tempo style and I could tell early on that we had that going," said Keith Allain '80, Yale's Malcolm G. Chace Head Coach.

The visitors earned a great opportunity to increase the lead in the second when Holy Cross left winger Tommy Dwyer was sent to the locker room with a five-minute major for hitting from behind. The Bulldogs' power-play moved the puck around very well and got numerous chances to find the net. The goal came midway through the advantage on a short, one-timer by Stu Wilson. It began as a D-to-D pass along the point, O'Gara to Nate Repensky, who then snapped it toward Wilson on the right edge of the crease. The junior center re-directed it past Matt Ginn to make it 2-0.

There were other great opportunities before that power play ended, but no red lights. However, there would be more chances on the advantage because the Crusaders (7-6-4) had trouble staying even strength. A few minutes later, the Elis cashed in on a cross-checking penalty to go up three at 15:13 of the middle frame.

Ryan Obuchowski, setting up on the advantage in the Holy Cross end, passed to Ryan Hitchcock behind the goal line on the left side. Hitchcock found Mike Doherty open in the left circle and got the puck on his stick. The sophomore left wing blasted the puck over Ginn's glove for his fourth of the season.

"We were clicking on all cylinders tonight. We took another step up with this game," said Allain.

Yale outshot the purple 9-4 in the second, but one of those four was pretty scary for the visitors. Fortunately for Yale, Lyon came up with a big save on a breakaway by Nick Finn. He snatched a Scott Pooley point-blank shot headed for a corner early in the third as well.

"Alex has been rock solid back there for us. He didn't get tested a ton tonight, but he came up big when needed," said Allain.

BULLDOG BITES

Yale suited up nearly the same lineup as in last Saturday's exhibition vs. the Red Stars. The changes were John Baiocco in for Henry Hart at left wing, and Alex Ward (extra defenseman last Saturday) was out of the lineup… This Saturday's Vermont game is a 7:30 puck drop. The reason for the later start time is doubleheader day at Ingalls with the Yale women's team hosting Harvard at 4 pm in a key ECAC contest… Speaking of later starts, puck drop at MSG on Jan. 10 for Rivalry on Ice Part II should be about 8:15 p.m… Manchester Monarchs forwards Sean Backman '10 and Brian O'Neill '12 were on hand at the Hart Center to root for the Bulldogs. O'Neill, who leads the AHL with 38 points in 30 games, was recently named league player of the week after notching 10 points in three games… The Elis play against Northeastern at Matthews Arena (second oldest hockey arena in the U.S.) for the first time since 1994 on Jan. 6.

Filed by Steve Conn, Yale Sports Publicity Director

photo by Brian Foley