NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The No. 2-ranked Norwich University men's ice hockey team scored three power play goals to defeat Skidmore College 3-2 on Friday night at Kreitzberg Arena in New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) action. 

Norwich (15-2-2, 10-1-1 NEHC) extended its unbeaten streak to nine straight games with the hard-fought victory and clinched the season sweep over the Thoroughbreds. 

Junior forward Coby Downs (Montclair, Calif.) scored a goal and had two assists, while sophomore defenseman Gabriel Chicoine (St. Dominique, Quebec) tallied three assists to lead the offense. Senior goalie Tom Aubrun (Chamonix, France) made 26 saves to improve to 14-2-2 on the season in goal. 

Norwich opened the game 3-for-3 on the power play with Philip Elgstam (Stockholm, Sweden), Felix Brassard (St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec) and Downs all scoring with the man advantage. 

Skidmore took a 1-0 lead at the 4:12 mark of the first period with Nicholas Charron banking a puck off a Norwich defender and into the back of the net off assists from Matthew Rutigliano and Misha Mrotchek. 

The Cadets answered just under five minutes later with Elgstam jamming home his own rebound on the right side of the crease to tie the game up at 1-1. Downs and Chicoine picked up the assists on the goal.

Norwich opened the second period scoring with Brassard firing a wrist shot top shelf and into the corner of the net from the top of the left faceoff circle off assists from Downs and Chicoine at the 4:43 mark. 

Skidmore answered again with Rutigliano scoring with a shot tucked just under the cross bar off assists from Matt Muzyka and Austin Rook. 

Downs capped the scoring with the game-winning goal at the 10:21 mark of the second period after he slid a puck into a wide open net from the right half boards after a terrific setup with Brassard at the opposite circle. Chicoine picked up his third secondary assist of the night. 

Norwich outshot Skidmore 31-28. Brandon Kassel made 28 saves for Skidmore in goal to fall to 8-5-4. 

Norwich faces No. 6-ranked Hobart College at 4 p.m. on its annual Gold Out Night in rematch of the last two NEHC Championship games on Saturday at Kreitzberg Arena.