Box Score (PDF)

HAMDEN, Conn. — Mitch Vanderlaan scored with 2 minutes, 42 seconds remaining in the third period and Mitch Gillam made 39 saves to send the Cornell men's hockey team to a 2-2 tie Friday night at national No. 1 Quinnipiac.
 
Jeff Kubiak scored the Big Red's first goal, then set up Vanderlaan's equalizer in the third. After Cornell (11-7-4, 6-6-3 ECAC Hockey) came up empty on consecutive power plays a little earlier in the frame, coincidental penalties sent the teams to a four-on-four scenario. Patrick McCarron sent a pass down the right halfwall to Kubiak, who was  coming free out of the right corner. Kubiak patiently avoided the sprawling Quinnipiac defender before sending a backhanded pass up the slot. That's where Vanderlaan was stationed, and he sent a shot over Bobcats goalie Michael Gartieg's catching glove to help Cornell lock up a critical point in the league standings.
 
After the teams traded jabs in the first half of the opening period, a handful scoring chances came in a batch. A defensive turnover led to a K.J. Tiefenwerth breakaway around the 12:30 mark, but Gillam made the save. Cornell then transitioned the other way, leading to a Trevor Yates shot that was similarly shrugged and held by Garteig.
 
After the ensuing media timeout, Reece Willcox picked off an outlet pass and circled the zone before setting up Dwyer Tschantz for a couple chances from in tight, but no one could convert the rebound.
 
Soon thereafter, the Big Red took a penalty on the forecheck to give Quinnipiac the night's first man advantage — and one of the nation's best power play teams didn't take long to convert. Tim Clifton took a shot from the top of the left circle, which was tipped in by Landon Smith on top of the crease to give the Bobcats a 1-0 lead with 5:31 to play in the first.
 
Cornell equalized just 3:44 into the second period. Alec McCrea and McCarron eluded the Quinnipiac forecheck, and Anthony Angello's outlet pass sent Kubiak through the neutral zone with speed. Kubiak drove wide to beat his defender on the left wing and noticed Garteig aggressively out of his crease, opting instead to continue behind the net before tucking in a wraparound for his seventh goal of the season.
 
A trio of penalties a few minutes later set up a Quinnipiac four-on-three, which resulted in another power play goal for the home side. Cornell won a faceoff to Gillam's left, but the defenseman couldn't clear the zone. The Bobcats' Devon Toews immediately set up Sam Anas for a one-timer from the left dot which zipped between Gillam's legs to restore Quinnipiac's one-goal lead.
 
Gillam kept the deficit minimal. His biggest save came on a three-on-one break with 12:28 to play in the third period, when he anticipated Luke Shiplo's pass to Tiefenwerth, lunging to his left to smother the shot. Gillam had four saves in overtime.
 
Cornell associate head coach Ben Syer is now 4-0-1 in his career as acting head coach. Mike Schafer missed the game while recovering from a concussion suffered in practice earlier this week.
 
The Big Red, which entered the weekend ranked 17th in the USCHO.com poll, is 1-0-1 against No. 1-ranked teams this season. Cornell topped then-undefeated Providence in overtime, 2-1, on Dec. 28. Cornell also remains undefeated in Friday night games at Quinnipiac (6-0-1).
 
The Big Red wraps up a stretch of four consecutive road games at 7 p.m. Saturday at Ivy League foe Princeton.