Battle of New Hampshire

The Battle of New Hampshire or Riverstone Cup IX (how many people knew that) was held in Manchester, New Hampshire tonight, and I was lucky enough to be in attendance. Dartmouth and UNH (as always) played in the game. UNH was heavily favored to win as they are almost every year. Dartmouth entered the game 4-11-0 overall and 2-7 in ECAC. While UNH had a 9-7-4 record and 9-2-3 in Hockey East. Another factor that is in UNH's advantage is that the crowd, although at a neutral rink is a very pro-UNH crowd.

The first period was surprisingly even finishing at 2-2. Goals were scored by Phil DeSimone (Paul Thompson, Blake Kessel) and Paul Thompson (Blake Kessel) for UNH. Nick Walsh (Danny Markowitz) andMatt Reber (Doug Jones, Adam Estoclet) for Dartmouth. The shots on goal were even 12-12 in the first. The goal that might have been the turning point for this game was scored at 19:20 mark for UNH. Dartmouth tried to ice the puck, but it took a wild bounce off the corner boards and didn't cross the goal-line, the whole dartmouth team was gliding to the bench. Blake Kessel (who is probably the best prospect on either team got the puck and rifled the puck to Paul Thompson who was alone on that side of the ice. He was stopped on his half break away but was able to muscle the rebound home. To tie the game at 2. The outcome of this game could have been a lot different had Dartmouth gone in up 2-1.

The game was pretty even through the first part of the second period as well, but then UNH took the game away from Dartmouth. Or you might say Dartmouth beat itself. A bad penalty followed by a pretty weak call put UNH on a 5 on 3 advantage. Bobby Butler (Phil DeSimone, Blake Kessel) Scored on the 5 on 3 on a 1 timer. Then the back-breaker, Peter LeBlanc (Mike Sislo, Matt Campanale) fired a shot that broke the defenseman's stick and fluttered over the goalie's (Jodie O'Neill) shoulder and into the net, on the 5 on 4 that followed. 4-2 UNH after 2.

In the third play got a little chippy and about halfway through the period Paul Thompson (Blake Kessel, Brett Kostolansky) netted another powerplay goal. to make it 5-2 the eventual final.

The difference in the game Dartmouth 0-4 on the powerplay UNH 3-4.

The Riverstone Cup was pretty modest in size, to me it's kind of funny that this award is even given and they call it "the best team in New Hampshire"

Paul Thompson (2 goals, 1 assist) and Blake Kessel (4 assists) were named Co-players of the game.

Solid showing for UNH, as they won a game they were suppose to