MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - Middlebury and Bowdoin skated to a 2-2 tie in the opening game of the season for both teams in Kenyon Arena on Saturday night.

The seventh ranked Polar Bears (0-0-1, 0-0-1 NESCAC) still trail the Panthers (0-0-1, 0-0-1 NESCAC) with a series record 29-39-7. The two teams last met in the NESCAC Semifinals, hosted by Bowdoin, where the Polar Bears battled to a 4-2 win advancing and ultimately winning the conference title.

Bowdoin took a 1-0 lead 12:17 into the first period with a transition goal. Chris Fenwick's original shot driving to the goal from the left wing was saved by Mike Peters, but the rebound came right to Kendall Culbertson who netted his first career goal for Bowdoin. Middlebury nearly tied the game at the 15:53 mark, but Jake Charles' tip of a Max Greenwald blast was saved by Max Fenkell.

Middlebury tied the game 2:09 into the second period when Greenwald centered a pass from the left boards to Derek Pimentel, who scored from the slot. The Panthers took the lead later in the period with a power play goal at the 14:56 mark. After taking a feed from Charles, Connor Frick broke in on the left wing and scored with a shot to the top right corner of the net.

A series of penalties in the third left each team with a brief five-on-three power play, including 12 seconds of three-on-three action. The Polar Bears eventually netted the equalizer 12:44 into the period as Kyle Lockwood centered a pass from the left to John McGinnis. McGinnis wristed a shot past Peters, sending the teams into overtime.

The Panthers controlled the overtime period, but could not find the back of the net despite outshooting Bowdoin, 6-1. Louis Belisle nearly won the game breaking to the goal but had his shot saved by Fenkell, as a follow-up shot from Matt Silcoff went just wide. A minute later, Brendan McGovern's shot from the outside was stopped with a pad save, as a flurry ensued ending with Fenkell covering the puck.

Middlebury outshot Bowdoin 36-24. Fenkell stopped 34 shots in net for Bowdoin, including six key saves in overtime. Peters made 22 saves for the Panthers, including five scoreless power plays for Bowdoin.

The Polar Bears will visit Williams tomorrow afternoon for a 3:00 P.M. game.