HANOVER, NH  -- The Dartmouth College men's hockey team held on to an early three-goal lead to hand Union its first league loss, 4-0, in ECAC Hockey action at Thompson Arena Saturday evening. Union freshman Corey Milan (Great Barrington, MA) stopped 12 shots in a 45-minute relief appearance

 

The Big Green (3-1-0, 2-1-0 ECAC Hockey) struck early in the first, cracking Union's stingy penalty kill with a pair of power-play scores, the first coming less than two minutes into the game. Matt Reber fed Scott Fleming, whose shot from the right circle was batted down by Union senior netminder Justin Mrazek (Regina, SK). The puck fell to the ice at the left post, as Nick Johnson lifted it in for his third goal of the season at 1:56.

 

Connor Shields added an unassisted power-play score at 13:54, and Fleming followed with an even-strength tally that dribbled under Mrazek's right leg pads 1:20 later.

 

Milan came into net after Dartmouth's third goal, just as Union's offense started to come alive late in the frame. The Dutchmen recorded four shots over the final four minutes of the stanza, including two on a late power play. Lane Caffaro (Slave Lake, AB) and Mario Valery-Trabucco (Montreal, QC) both found the net on shots from the point as time was waning, but Dartmouth goaltender Mike Devine kept the Dutchmen off the board, denying Caffaro with his mask, and Valery-Trabucco with his glove.

 

The Dutchmen (2-3-2, 0-1-2 ECAC Hockey) started the middle stanza with a barrage of shots, but most were blocked by the Big Green's defense until Justin Pallos (Glastonbury, CT) tested Devine under two minutes in. The Dutchmen meanwhile held the Big Green off the board and to just three shots in the frame while keeping up a brisk back-and-forth pace. Milan did his part, making a thrilling save on a shot at the doorstep by Adam Estoclet early in the period. Union held a 5-3 shot advantage in the stanza.

 

Union had several good looks early in the third, first when Jason Walters (Renfrew, ON) aimed to tip in a Matt Cook (Belle Mead, NJ) shot on the power-play. Walters was subsequently cross-checked by Harrison Taylor, and the Dutchmen drew an 11-second two-man advantage. The Big Green quickly cleared the puck, killing off the two-man power play, but the Dutchmen kept firing. Torren Delforte (Shortsville, NY) looked to get Union on the board shortly after, but Devine got his stick on the senior's shot at the near post.

 

Valery-Trabucco helped diffuse a two-on-one as Taylor picked up the puck as he exited the penalty box and rushed in with Rob Smith. Milan came up with the save and turned the action around to Sam Bowles (Davidsonville, MD) and Pallos, only to have a similar outcome at the other end.

 

Dartmouth's Joe Gaudet added an insurance goal at 16:52 of the third, knocking in a rebound from Brandon Harrington.

 

Milan finished with 12 saves, while Devine made 29 in the shutout win.

 

Union continues its road trip with a 7 p.m. game at Harvard on Saturday.