Bobcats Over Bulldogs

The Quinnipiac Bobcats welcomed in the Yale Bulldogs to M&T Bank Arena for a late Saturday matinee to close out the regular season for both squads. Yale came into this matchup 5-0-0 over their last 5GP while the Bobcats haven’t fared as well as of late going 2-2-1 over that same span.

None of that really matters as the teams are preparing to head into the ECAC playoffs. Both sides were securely set among the top 4 seeds, but you want to be playing your best heading into the post season. Iron sharpens iron, so this was a good test for both squads; no creampuffs to end the season.

This game came down to the wire, and then some. The Bobcats completed the come from behind win and took this one in overtime by a 4-3 score. Someone set up these 2 teams for a 5 game series and inject it straight into my veins.

In net for the Bulldogs was Samson Frey, making her 15th start of the season with a 1.13GAA and a lights out .949%SV. At the other end of the sheet stood Felicia Frank making her 34th start of the campaign (not a typo) with a 1.34GAA and her own ridiculous .946%SV. But Brownie, what do these numbers mean? Well Dear Reader, it tells you that there probably won’t be a lot of scoring in this one. I mean that’s only the best (Frey) and third best(Frank) save percentage in the country heading into this game.

Oh but there was some scoring (shows you how much I know), as Yale opened up in the first period with a pair. First was Gracie Gilkyson who converted off a scramble and a game of find-the-puck in front of Frank. Yale put a long range shot on net that Frank saved, but the rebound got caught up in a scramble just outside of the blue paint and Gilkyson was the first to find the loose puck. The Alberta native wasted no time in stashing it over the blocker to give Yale the early lead.

Just over a minute later Yale doubled up their lead when they converted on a turnover deep in the Quinnipiac zone. A heavy forecheck loosened the puck and Cami Bell corralled it behind the Bobcat net. Bell skated the puck to the LW corner as Stephanie Stainton circled at the LW dot. Bell laid a silky backhand feed to Stainton and she buried a wrister far-side over the shoulder.

That score held until the intermission and it didn’t look good for the Bobcats. There were quite a few unforced turnovers and the puck security was almost non-existent for Quinnipiac. Yale seemed to have a step on the Bobcats in every zone.

In the 2nd, the zone time evened out as Quinnipiac started to get more looks, but were unable to cash in: until they did. At just about midway through the period Peyton Cormier entered the chat. A monster shift along the wall and end boards by Bryn Prier kept the puck deep in the Yale zone and seemed to take a bit of jam out of the Bulldogs. Yale was only able to clear the puck to the point where Zoe Uens took over and possessed through heavy traffic down the LW wall and attempted a wraparound on Frey. Uens’ bid didn’t go, but the puck squirted out to the low slot and Cormier was there to put Quinnipiac on the board. Ladies and Gents we got ourselves a game.

The Bobcats had chances throughout but were unable to convert and Yale was playing like they were trailing but the ‘tendies stood tall. I told you they were good! The sides headed to the final 20 with Yale nursing a one-goal lead and with more than a minute of power play time still to play on a fresh sheet to open the third.

In the final frame the Bobcats cleaned up their turnover issues and Yale seemed content to counterpunch the Bobcats’ attack. Quinnipiac was attacking, but it was the Bulldogs that punched through. A late break by into the zone by Yale saw Frank make the initial save on Hannah Weyerhaeuser, but the puck leaked through and Jordan Ray was at the right post to tuck it home. Say it with me: Good things happen when you go to the net.

With time winding down in the period, Quinnipiac got Frank to the bench with about 4mins to play, but they couldn’t get set up in the Yale zone. Luckily the Bulldogs kept icing the puck and giving the Bobcats hope.

And with that little bit of hope in their pocket, the Bobcats didn’t give up. With just over a minute to play and Frank on the bench again, who else but friend of the pod Kahlen Lamarche got Quinnipiac back within one. A puck from the corner found Lamarche in front and she tucked it home.

And when the improbable all of a sudden seemed possible, it then became true. Aynsley D’Ottavio corralled the puck at the blue line and buried a clapper to tie the game with 24.6 seconds in regulation. Do you believe in miracles indeed.

The teams headed to 3v3 OT and the vibe was electric in the rink. The name of the game in extra time is possession and shots on net. Possession was back and forth, but the only shot that mattered found home. Lamarche, with ice in her veins and bad intentions (for opposing goalies) in her heart ended this one. As she told me on the podcast earlier this week, she shoots to score every time she puts one on net, and this time she certainly did.

And just to make sure you see her Valentine’s Day celly… here’s another look.

And if you haven’t seen (or heard) Lamarche on our most recent podcast; I’ll first ask you where the hell you been? And I’ll then suggest you do so forthwith. And to all the other Bobcats that are looking for a little bump in their game, (Lamarche has gone 3-1-4 in 2GP since coming on the pod) let Farrah know and we’ll get you on.

So the Bobcats win this game in a dramatic fashion, but the Bulldogs get the regular season title for the ECAC. Don’t feel bad for the ladies from Yale after this game, they had it going on at Ingalls. Instagram won’t let me embed their victory lap video, but it’s worth going to take a look at on their IG.

So both squads have a bit of time off as they wait to see who they’ll face in the ECAC playoffs, which is not a bad thing to get ready for the rigors of the second season. All that I ask The Hockey Gods, is that you somehow get these 2 in the finals at Lake Placid. Please?

If you’ve read this far you’re clearly a fan of the women’s game. Please like, share, subscribe and follow us on all socials @BTGHockeyPod and give the podcast a try. Thanks!

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