NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Ronan O'Donnell scored 1:05 into overtime to give Yale its first victory over Harvard since Feb. 24, 2018, lifting the Bulldogs to a 3-2 win at Ingalls Rink.
With the win, Yale improved to 8-17-1 overall and 7-10-1 in ECAC Hockey, while Harvard fell to 13-11-2 overall and 10-7-1 in conference play.
Period 1: Yale 2, Harvard 2
- 4:02 (HAR) – Harvard struck first immediately off the faceoff, gaining possession and turning it into a quick scoring chance to take the early 1-0 lead.
- 6:32 (YAL) – David Chen won the puck along the half wall and settled it before sliding a controlled pass up to Joe Blackley at the point. With traffic building in front, Blackley snapped a wrist shot through the lane that sailed past the goaltender to even the score.
- 10:20 (HAR) – The Crimson regained the lead after a transition rush up ice. Beating a Bulldog defender wide, Harvard carried the puck into the zone and finished the play to move back in front.
- 15:51 (YAL) – Rhys Bentham ignited the equalizer with work along the boards, battling to free a loose puck in the offensive zone. Seiya Tanaka-Campbell collected it and quickly found Bentham cutting into open ice. Bentham transitioned from the wall into the deep slot and wristed a shot home to knot the game at two.
Period 2: Yale 2, Harvard 2
- Both sides combined for 14 shots on goal in the second, but neither could break through as the teams headed into the second intermission tied at two.
Period 3: Yale 2, Harvard 2
- Both goaltenders turned aside eight shots in the final frame, sending the rivalry matchup to overtime knotted at two.
Overtime: Yale 3, Harvard 2
- 1:05 (YAL) – Ronan O'Donnell called game for the Bulldogs. David Chen dropped a pass for O'Donnell at the blue line, and O'Donnell charged into the zone before snapping a shot that slipped five-hole past the Crimson netminder. Initially waved off, the play went to video review, where the goal was confirmed, sending Ingalls Rink into celebration.
Notes
- This marked Yale's first victory over Harvard in 14 meetings, dating back to Feb. 24, 2018, when the Bulldogs defeated the Crimson 2-1 at Ingalls Rink.
- It was Yale's first overtime win over Harvard since March 9, 2012, when the Bulldogs earned a 2-1 victory in Game 1 of the ECAC Hockey quarterfinals.
- Noah Pak made 26 saves in net for the Bulldogs.
- Ronan O'Donnell recorded his first career overtime game-winner. It was his fourth career game-winning goal and his first of the season.
- Joe Blackley scored in back-to-back games, netting his second career goal in the first period.
- Seiya Tanaka-Campbell registered his first collegiate point with an assist on Rhys Bentham's first-period goal.
- David Chen tallied two assists — his third multi-assist game of the season.
- The Bulldogs played their second straight night of extra hockey after taking No. 12 Dartmouth to overtime before falling in a shootout.
Looking Ahead
The Bulldogs close out the regular-season road schedule with games at Clarkson (Feb. 20) and St. Lawrence (Feb. 21).