MALDEN - Eighth-ranked Bowdoin scored three goals in the first 10 minutes of the second period and remained unbeaten with a 5-3 victory at Tufts in a NESCAC men's hockey game played at Valley Forum II on Friday night.
Senior Daniel Weiniger (Warren, NJ) scored a goal and an assist for Bowdoin to reach the 100 career points milestone (48 goals, 52 assists). The Polar Bears improved to 8-0-1 overall and 4-0-1 in the league to keep hold of first place. Tufts, led by sophomore defenseman Blake Edwards' (Columbus, OH) game-high three points with a goal and two assists, fell to 3-4-1 and 1-3-1 with their third straight loss.
Bowdoin scored two power-play goals in the first 4:09 of the opening period as they charged out to a 2-0 lead. Senior Timothy McGarry (Kennett Square, PA) netted the first just 11 seconds into a power-play at 1:16. Three minutes later, Polar Bear sophomore John McGinnis (Cocoa, FL) beat Jumbo goalie Brian Phillips (Colleyville, TX) over the shoulder for a two-goal advantage.
The Jumbos responded with a much-needed goal just 13 seconds after the second Bowdoin strike as Edwards scored off a face-off at 4:22. After the Polar Bears killed a pair of penalties, including a 5-on-3 disadvantage for 26 seconds, Jumbo junior Kyle Gallegos (Wesminster, CO) scored the third power-play goal of the period. During a scrum in front of the net, his seventh goal evened it at 2-2 with 4:30 on the clock. Shots were 11-10 Bowdoin in the first.
The Polar Bears controlled the second period, earning an 18-9 advantage in shots. Junior Ollie Koo (Greenwich, CT) put them up 3-2 at 2:12 of the middle stanza when he capitalized on a deflected shot. The Bears then scored twice within 40 seconds to push their lead to 5-2. Weineger scored his 100th career point on a goal at 9:20, following a pass from behind the net by freshman Matt Rubinoff (Oakville, ONT). Forty seconds later, senior Robert Toczylowksi (Reading, MA) finished another Bowdoin flurry in front for a three-goal margin.
Tufts had another 5-on-3 power-play early in the third and took advantage of it this time. Freshman Stewart Bell (Marietta, GA) scored at 3:30 and Tufts was showing some life down 5-3. However, Bowdoin was able to stem the Jumbo momentum and finished the period with a 14-8 lead in shots.
Junior Steve Messina (Newton, NJ) made 24 saves to improve to 6-0 in the Bowdoin net. McGinnis finished with a goal and an assist, while sophomore Ryan Collier (Pointe Claire, QUE) and Rubinoff both posted two assists for the visitors.
Gallegos added a goal and an assist to the Tufts attack, while senior co-captain Dylan Plimmer (Phoenix, AZ) finished with two assists. Phillips stoped 38 shots as Bowdoin earned a 43-27 shots advantage in the game.
Bowdoin was 2 for 4 with a man-advantage, and Tufts was 2 for 6.
The Jumbos host Colby in their final game of the first semester tomorrow at 4:15. Bowdoin moves on to play at Connecticut College tomorrow in a 3 pm face-off.
Game Box Score
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