Quinnipiac University
Yale
Battle of Whitney Ave., Round Three on Tap for ECAC Quarterfinals
3/9/2023 4:24:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Click Here
Saturday, March 11 | 7:00 PM EST | No. 2 Quinnipiac Bobcats (28-3-3, 20-2-0 ECAC Hockey) vs. Yale Bulldogs (8-18-4, 6-14-2 ECAC Hockey)
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Click Here
Sunday, March 12 (if nec.) | 4:00 PM EST | No. 2 Quinnipiac Bobcats (28-3-3, 20-2-0 ECAC Hockey) vs. Yale Bulldogs (8-18-4, 6-14-2 ECAC Hockey)
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Click Here
HAMDEN, Conn. — The top-seeded and No. 2 nationally ranked Quinnipiac Bobcats, fresh off a historic regular season, begin their postseason journey this weekend, hosting Whitney Ave., rival Yale for a Best-of-three quarterfinal series at M&T Bank Arena.
The Bobcats enter the series on a season-best, 10-game winning streak, winning 20 games in league play, the most by an ECAC team since 1988-89. They also boast the 2023 Richter Award Finalist Yaniv Perets and a pair of Hobey Baker nominees in Perets and Collin Graf
Friday and Saturday night's puck drops are slated for 7 p.m., and can be seen live on ESPN+. An if-necessary Game 3 would be played Sunday at 4 p.m.CLEARY CLINCHED
For the third consecutive season and fourth out of the last five, the Bobcats clinched the Cleary Cup and the ECAC's regular season title with a sweep of Yale and Brown at M&T Bank Arena.
The Bobcats earned the title Friday night, with a win over Yale and Cornell's loss to Clarkson and then celebrated along with its seniors on Saturday night to earn the top seed in the upcoming ECAC postseason.
HOME ICE ADVANTAGE
For the first time in its Division I program history, the Bobcats finished undefeated on home ice during the 2022-23 campaign, winning each of its last 13 games to finish 13-0-1 at M&T Bank Arena, the only team in the country to do so.
Over the last two seasons, Quinnipiac is 30-2-2 in Hamden.
CHASING RECORDS
Collin Graf is currently having one of the best seasons by any sophomore in program history, as his 49 points are the best in the program's Division I era.
He bests Reid Cashman's Division I mark of 45, set during the 2004-05 season. He also has 30 assists on the year, which is good for third, all-time by a sophomore in program history.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Bobcats enter the postseason with the nation's best scoring defense, allowing just 1.62 goals-per-game and outscoring teams by an NCAA-best 2.35 goals per night.
The back end of that defensive unit, goaltender Yaniv Perets, leads the country in goals-against average (1.55) and winning percentage (.868) and is second in shutouts (eight)
HOME PLAYOFF HOCKEY
The Bobcats have clinched a bye in the ECAC Hockey Postseason, ensuring a best-of-3 quarterfinal series will be played at M&T Bank Arena on March 10-12, with the winner advancing to the semifinals in Lake Placid the following weekend.
Quinnipiac has had home ice in each of the last four postseasons, with the Bobcats and Saints matching up in last season's quarterfinals. The Bobcats skated to a 4-1 victory on Friday night before a double-overtime thriller on Saturday that Desi Burgart won at the 9:09 mark of the second extra session.
Rand Pecknold's club is looking for its second Whitelaw Cup in program history.
For an inside look at the Bobcats' postseason run, be sure to follow it on social media @QU_MIH or go to gobobcats.com/mih.
