Courtesy Middlebury Sports Information

MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury scored five-straight goals, including three in the second period, as the Panthers pulled away from visiting Tufts for a 6-2 NESCAC triumph on Saturday. Middlebury (4-2-0, 3-1-0) continues conference play Friday at 7:00 p.m. hosting Hamilton, while the Jumbos (3-4-0, 1-3-0) are home at the same time against Bowdoin.

Both teams got on the scoreboard in the opening period, with the Jumbos striking first. Ross Delabruere directed a shot on goal from the left side that Clay Berger poked past Panther goalie Adam Wisco with 3:34 expired. Middlebury countered with 6:53 showing on the clock, as Michael Fahie centered the puck from behind the Tufts net to Kamil Tkaczuk, who tucked a shot from the right side of the crease inside the far post.

In the second period, the Jumbos regained a one-goal cushion, taking advantage of a 5-on-3 power play. Justin Brandt sent a pass across the top of the crease to the left post, where Nick Schultze deposited his third tally of the season with 5:53 expired.

Middlebury pulled even 1:14 later, when Fahie buried a centering pass from Emack Bentley on an odd-man rush. The hosts took their first lead (3-2) of the game with 3:56 left in the middle frame, as Owen Powers made a great pass to Zach Shapiro in the slot, who ripped a shot under the cross bar in the upper-right corner. Fahie added his second marker of the period with 4.1 seconds remaining, making a spin move at the top of the crease and sending shot past Jumbo goalie Drew Hotte for a 4-2 advantage.

The Panthers didn’t waste any time adding to their lead in the third, as Powers swatted in a puck in the slot with just 34 seconds ticked off the clock for a 5-2 lead. Middlebury killed off a pair of Jumbo power plays to keep the difference at three goals, while Wisco made a very timely save on a shot by Angus Scott from right on the doorstep with 8:15 remaining.

The hosts finished off the win with a power-play goal with nine seconds left, making the final 6-2. Matt Danner swept in a pass from Cole Joslin for his first collegiate tally.

Wisco won for the second time in as many nights, finishing with 25 saves, while Hotte had 31 stops for the Jumbos.

Middlebury held a 37-27 edge in shots and each team went 1-6 on the power play.