Ice Hockey | Five steps forward, one step back: Tufts snaps win streak

    With a 4-1 loss on Saturday to St. Michael's College, the ice hockey team's first five-game win streak since the 2000-01 season came to an end.
    Before dropping the decision, however, the Jumbos capped off the streak with a tense 2-1 victory over perennial powerhouse Norwich University on Friday night, marking the Jumbos' sixth win of the season and equaling their win total from last year. Saturday's loss was the first suffered by the Jumbos since the end of November, when they dropped a 4-3 decision to UMass Boston before starting up the streak that began with a win in their home opener on Dec. 5.
    "The team finally realized we can win," freshman goaltender Scott Barchard said. "We just have to get back to the drawing board, restart and find another way to win."
    On Saturday, the first period was fairly even, with both teams registering 14 shots.  St. Michael's capitalized first when senior captain Chris Healey scored his first of two goals at the 8:57 mark. Tufts earned multiple power play opportunities later in the period, including a five-on-three advantage for a minute and a half, but the score remained 1-0 heading into the first intermission.
    Most of the game's scoring action came in the second period, when the teams combined for three goals in less than six minutes. At 7:40, St. Michael's sophomore Nicholas Sheehan buried a goal on a two-on-one rush.
    The Jumbos were quick to respond, as sophomore Andy Davis netted his second goal of the season, with assists going to sophomore Lindsay Walker and freshman Matt Amico. It was the lone score for Tufts, despite the Jumbos' firing a total of 32 shots on goal.
    St. Michael's junior Kyle Marquis put the Jumbos away for good when he beat Barchard with 7:02 to go in the period. Healey added his second tally and team-leading seventh of the season to ice off the win.
    "We came out flat and we collapsed in the [defensive] zone," junior Doug Wilson said. "But we will use losses like this as momentum going into the rest of the season. It was not what we wanted, but it's a good lesson."
    Friday's game may have contributed to fatigue on Saturday, as the two-time national champion Cadets kept the Jumbos on their toes. The victory was Tufts' first over Norwich since becoming a member of the competitive NESCAC/ECAC East league in 2001, but the biggest story for the Jumbos took place between the pipes.
    Coming off a 28-save shutout — the first of his career — against Johnson & Wales on Jan. 6, Barchard outdid himself with a 39-save performance to silence then-No. 12  Cadets.
    "Scotty stood on his head all weekend," Wilson said.
    Thanks to Barchard and the Jumbo defense, Tufts left the ice tied at 0-0 despite being outshot 11-2 in the first period and being short-handed three times.
    "The team was letting me see every shot," Barchard said. "And they blocked probably 15 more shots all game."
    Tufts struck first when sophomore Zach Diaco scored a power-play goal at 11:56 in the second period with assists from sophomore Mike Vitale and Wilson. Less than five minutes later, the Jumbos forced a turnover at the blue line. Derosa, the team's leader in goals and points, carried the puck all the way into the Cadets' zone and fed Wilson, who buried it for his first goal of the season and what would ultimately stand as the deciding score.
    "Tommy gave me a good pass and Vitale and Resor set up a great screen," Wilson said. "I don't think the goalie even saw the puck."
    Special teams proved critical for the Jumbos, as in addition to their power-play goal, they killed off five Cadet power plays.
    "It starts up with the forwards and a really good forecheck," Barchard said. "Teams are not comfortable coming into our zone."
    "We are a lot more aggressive on the penalty kills this year," Wilson said. "We rush the defensemen. We go right at them and they mishandle the puck."
    With a 2-0 Tufts lead going into the third period, Barchard continued his outstanding play. The Jumbos were outshot 17-1 on the period, but Barchard was up to the task, turning aside all but one shot.
    With just 2:42 left in the game, Norwich made a last-minute comeback bid. Senior Rico Piatelli cut the lead to one, so with 2:42 to go, the Cadets pulled third-period replacement goaltender Ryan Klingensmith. But Tufts' defense held strong, capping off the upset win. 
    Derosa attributes the team's recent success to great chemistry.
    "We've had the same lines the past six or seven games, so everyone is getting a feel for each other," he said. "I've been playing with the same two kids the past six or seven games, too, and we are really gelling as a unit."
    After compiling just 10 goals over four games, the Jumbos have found the back of the net 22 times in a six-game span while allowing just 11 goals.
    "We lost a lot of talent last year," Wilson said. "I wasn't sure what would happen this season, but the team has really clicked. We have a good group of freshmen and good chemistry. Everybody knows their role on the team and does their part."
    The Jumbos continue their road trip on Friday when they look to topple ECAC East competitor Skidmore (6-5), whom they haven't beaten since 2001-02.