SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- The Skidmore College men's hockey team makes it final push for home ice in the ECAC East playoffs this weekend, hosting conference games against Saint Michael's College and Norwich University.
 
The Thoroughbreds (7-8-7, 3-6-6 ECAC East) currently sit tied for sixth in the ECAC East with three regular season contests remaining. Skidmore tied an NCAA Division III record with its seventh tie of the season in a 2-2 overtime game at #14 UMass Boston last Friday.
 
Skidmore's Vlad Gavrik and Marc Cibelli are currently on six game point streaks. Gavrik has tallied nine points (6 G, 3 A) in the six games, while Cibelli has added eight points (4 G, 4 A). Gavrik is tied for the team lead with 19 points (10 G, 9 A) on the season. Senior captain Brad Schuler also has 19 points (5 G, 14 A) and Aaron Beck ranks first on the team with 13 goals. Freshmen netminder Jack McDonald has posted a .920 save percentage and a 2.76 goals against average in 20 games in goal this season.
 
Opponent: Saint Michael's College (5-15-1, 2-11-1)
Date: Friday Feb. 7, 7 p.m.
 
Saint Michael's enters Friday's game a winner of three of its last four games.  AJ Pieprzak leads the Purple Knights in scoring with eight goals and 15 assists for 23 points. Kevin Altidor leads the team in goals (12) and ranks second in points (21) and freshmen defenseman Danny Divis is a two-way threat, ranking third on the team with 20 points (6 G, 14 A).
 
Last Meeting: Jan. 7. 2014 at Saint Michael's, T 2-2 (OT)
 
Skidmore tied the game at 6:22 of the second period on a goal by Schuler. After coincidental minors were assessed to each team with 1:06 remaining in the period, Beck gave Skidmore the lead nine seconds later. The Purple Knights came back and knotted the game early in the third frame, with Jeremy Wong knocking in a rebound at 3:33. In goal, McDonald made 36 saves on 38 shots for the Thoroughbreds while Dave Donzanti stopped 29 of 31 shots for Saint Michael's.
 
 
Opponent: #9 Norwich University Cadets
Date: Saturday, Feb. 8, 4 p.m.
 
The ninth-ranked Cadets, who are coming off back-to-back losses for just the second time this season, are currently in second in the ECAC East with 23 points. Norwich is led by a trio of seniors: Travis Janke, Shane Gorman and Chris Duszynski. Janke ranks first on the team in points (28), Gorman ranks second with 27 points, including a team-high 19 assists and Duszynski is third with 22 points and first with 15 goals. Matick Marinsek has posted a 8-3-2 record this season and has a  .905 save percentage and a 1.65 goals against average.
 
Last Meeting: Jan. 6, 2014 at Norwich, L 3-2 (OT)
 
Despite being outshot 40-20 in the game, the Thoroughbreds hung tough all game and eventually scored the game-tying goal at the 14:14 mark of the third period when Brian McQuillan beat Marinsek from point blank range to tie the game up at 2-2.  Gorman tallied 13 seconds into overtime, giving the Cadets the 3-2 win.7
 
 
The Thoroughbreds travel to Castleton St. Saturday, Feb. 15 for their final regular season contest.