After a lengthy drought to start the season, the Clarkson University Hockey team’s power play finally came to life as the Golden Knights scored their final three goals on the man-advantage to rally back from a three-goal deficit to gain a 4-4 tie against Colgate University in their opening ECAC Hockey game of the season before 2,010 fans at Cheel Arena on Friday night.

Clarkson’s balanced offense was on display again as 10 different Knights recorded points, including four separate goal scorers, and junior Paul Karpowich (Thunder Bay, ONT) posted another solid effort in the crease with a 36-save outing. Clarkson, which entered the game 0-of-33 on the power play, went scoreless on its first three man-advantage opportunities Friday night, but connected on its final three attempts to extend its unbeaten stretch to four games (2-0-2).

Colgate also received goals from four different scorers, and Alex Evin made 32 saves as the Raiders extended their unbeaten streak over Clarkson to seven games (5-0-2). Colgate went 1-of-7 on the power play and also scored a shorthanded marker.

Just 18 seconds after the opening faceoff, Clarkson went on top when freshman Ben Sexton (Kanata, ONT), charging down the right wing, put a shot on goal that deflected off a Colgate defender in front for his third goal of the season. The celebration was short lived however, as Sexton lost an edge during the play and slid hard into the backboards. After a lengthy delay, the rookie was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken arm.

Colgate gained the edge heading into the first intermission with a pair of goals late in the stanza. Billy Rivellini put the Raiders on the scoreboard with his third goal of the year at 13:47. At 17:05, Austin Smith gave the visitors a 2-1 lead when he collected a loose puck in front and sent in a low shot for his second goal of the season. Mike McCann and Christian Long earned assists on both goals.

Colgate struck again early in the second period with a 4-on-3 power-play tally from Thomas Larkin 75 seconds into the period for a 3-1 lead. Brian Day assisted.

The Knights made it a one-goal game with their first power-play goal of the season. At 16:07, junior defenseman Mark Borowiecki (Kanata, ONT) took a pass at the point from blueline partner, freshman David Pratt (Napanee, ONT) for his first goal of the season, and Clarkson’s first power-play goal of the year (1-of-37). Junior Louke Oakley (Whitby, ONT) also assisted.

Fifty-three seconds later, however, Colgate regained the two-goal lead when Chris Wagner tallied on a shorthanded breakaway for his first collegiate goal, giving the visitors a 4-2 lead after 40 minutes.

Clarkson battled back in the third frame with a pair of power-play tallies to tie the game. Senior Scott Freeman (Whitby, ONT) tallied his second goal of the season at 8:13, finishing off assists from classmates Brandon DeFazio (Oakville, ONT) and Bryan Rufenach (Barrie, ONT).

At 10:10, after a video review, freshman Matt Zarbo (Grand Island, NY) was credited with his third goal of the season, knocking in a loose puck that Evin failed to cover before the whistle blew. Sophomore Nik Pokulok (Vaudreuil-Dorion, QUE) and junior Nick Tremblay (Candiac, QUE) assisted.

Colgate out shot Clarkson 40-36.

The Knights, at 4-2-2 overall, will host Cornell on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Colgate, at 2-2-1, will play at St. Lawrence on Saturday. On Friday in Canton, St. Lawrence shutout Cornell 3-0.