RPI edges depleted Clarkson

TROY — It was another loss for the Clarkson University men's hockey team Saturday night, but the 2-1 defeat to Rensselaer on Saturday showed marked improvement from Friday night's 11-2 blowout loss at Union College.

The Engineers gained the ECAC Hockey win before a crowd of 4,134 at the Houston Field House, but after seeing his team suffer the program's worst loss in 21 years on Friday, Clarkson coach George Roll was happy with the effort Saturday.

"It was an embarrassment for the program (Friday) night," Roll said. "The guys could have easily gone the other way. I give them credit for responding. I thought they stuck with what we asked them to do."

As it did Friday, Clarkson again played shorthanded in Saturday's game, dressing just 17 skaters. Lauri Tuohimaa, who missed Friday's game, returned Saturday.

The lack of depth may have been a factor in the third period for Clarkson (5-20-3 overall, 1-13-2 conference), which managed just two shots against the Engineers.

"That had a lot to do with it, especially on the power play, using three lines and those guys are playing on the power play and penalty kill and don't have much of a break, you just run out of legs after a time," Roll said. "We wanted to keep it close with an opportunity to tie it."

RPI (15-12-3, 8-6-2) scored first on a power-play shot from Mike Bergin at 9 minutes, 1 second of the opening period. That proved to be the only first-period goal for the Engineers, despite outshooting Clarkson 15-3.

One reason for RPI's frustration was the play of Clarkson goalie Paul Karpowich, who was pulled early on Friday night but rebounded to finish with 33 saves on 35 shots Saturday.

"He was outstanding tonight," Roll said. "He was aggressive. He was out and made some big saves, especially in the first period."

RPI took a 2-0 lead on a shot from between the circles by Bryan Brutlag at 4:43 of the second period.

Clarkson scored its only goal at 16:17 of the second period, just one second after a power-play expired as Corey Tamblyn fired a shot from along the wall that went past Engineers goalie Allen York for his second goal of the weekend.