SLU 5, Clarkson 1

Clarkson had one of its worst games of the season Saturday, losing 5-1 in a nonconference game to rival St. Lawrence University in Appleton Arena.

Here were the five keys to the game for Clarkson:

1. Score three goals: When Clarkson scores three goals, or more, it is 3-2-1 this year. When the Golden Knights get two goals, or less, they are 0-9-3. Clarkson only scored once after going five periods without a goal, including last weekend's game at Ohio State.

2. Special teams: Both teams have killed penalties at the same rate - Clarkson 85.5 percent and SLU 85.6. The Saints have had the better power play so far this season (15.3 to 11.7). Key guys for each team: SLU's Brock McBride has four power-play goals and Clarkson's Lauri Tuohimaa has three. Neither team really excelled on special teams, and it wasn't a factor because it was already 3-0 before either team had their first power play. SLU's third goal, however, was scored with an extra attacker because a Clarkson penalty was coming and goalie Kain Tisi had left the ice.

3. Score first: In the last 10 Clarkson/SLU games at Appleton Arena, the team that scored first has won seven times. Not only did Clarkson not score first, SLU scored three goals in the first eight minutes.

4. Which goalie will be better?: Clarkson freshman Paul Karpowich, who was also recruited by SLU, is coming off a steller weekend at the Ohio Hockey Classic and has a .908 save percentage. SLU's Alex Petizian has bounced back from a subpar sophomore year and has a .916 save percentage. Karpowich had a rough game, though not all the goals could be blamed on him. SLU went with Kain Tisi in goal, though he was hardly challenged, having to make only 13 saves.

5. Conquer Appleton: Clarkson has struggled at Appleton Arena, dropping two straight games and losing six of their last seven contests in the building. The Golden Knights catch one break tonight as SLU's students are still on winter break. The crowd was down for a Clarkson game at Appleton (2,800) but the Golden Knights didn't take advantage.