MALDEN - Sophomore Kyle Gallegos (Westminster, CO) scored a hat trick with an assist, and senior goalie Scott Barchard (Reading, MA) made 48 saves as the surging Tufts hockey team routed Connecticut College, 7-1, in a NESCAC game at Valley Forum II Friday night.
With Middlebury idle tonight, the Jumbos took over sole possession of fourth place in the conference with 15 points. The top four teams earn home-ice berths into the conference tournament that begins on February 25. Tufts is now 10-7-2 overall and 7-5-1 in NESCAC. They are undefeated in their last five games (4-0-1). The Camels lost for the first time in three games, dropping to 5-11-3 overall and 3-8-2 in the league.
The Jumbos practically put the game away in the first period. Gallegos scored three times and Barchard stopped all 16 shots that he faced as Tufts took a 4-0 lead. The reigning NESCAC Player of the Week, Gallegos scored at 3:01, 12:16, and in the final second of the period. He now has 12 goals in 13 games for the Jumbos. Freshman Andrew White (Rockland, MA) also tallied at 10:52 and the Jumbos were rolling.
Connecticut College broke the momentum for a moment when sophomore Kevin Reich (Montvale, NJ) scored on a power play at 7:16 of the second period to make it a 4-1 game. However, 67 seconds later Jumbo freshman defenseman Blake Edwards (Columbus, OH) scored at 8:23 for a 5-1 Jumbo advantage. Gallegos had an assist on the goal. Barchard made 15 more saves in the second as the Camels were creating pressure, but could not capitalize.
The Camels tried some unusual strategy early in the third period, but it backfired on them. With senior goalie Andrew Margolin (Mahwah, NJ) in to replace starter Marcus Calvanico (Flower Mount, TX), the Camels pulled Margolin twice in the first four minutes. Tufts took advantage and scored empty-net goals by freshman Derrek Schartz (Plano, TX) at 3:23 and by senior tri-captain Matt Amico (Buffalo, NY) at 4:56. Up 7-1, the Jumbos went on to the victory behind 17 more Barchard saves.
Gallegos' running mate Dylan Plimmer (Phoenix, AZ) had three assists in the game, one of five Jumbos to total multiple points. Edwards and Amico both had a goal and an assist, while freshman defenseman Shawn Power (Arlington, MA) recorded two assists.
Connecticut College would finish with a 49-40 advantage in shots. Calvanico made 27 saves in two periods and Margolin had six in the third. The Camels could only take advantage out of one of seven power-play chances. Tufts was one of four with an extra skater.
The teams play again to conclude the home-and-home weekend tomorrow night at Connecticut College. Game time is 7 pm.
Game boxscore
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