Box Score

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara men's hockey team (2-4-3; 1-2-2 AHA) and the Canisius Golden Griffins (2-5-2; 2-1-2 AHA) battled to a 1-1 draw after trading early first period goals Tuesday evening at Dwyer Arena. 

Special teams were the difference in the match-up as a short-handed and power-play goal were tallied, as well as a total of 12 power plays killed off.  The penalty killing unit for the Golden Griffins killed off six of seven powerplays while the Purple Eagles killed off six powerplays, including a 49 second 5-on-3 in the third period. 

"We came to the realization that we were practicing our power play, yet the guys on our power play were our best penalty killers," said head coach David Burkholder .  "So we practiced our penalty kill for most of this week and it definitely was the difference.  Guys were in shooting lanes and blocking shots."

The Golden Griffins were the first to find the back of the net, capitalizing on a short-handed opportunity less than two minutes into the opening period.  Junior Torrey Lindsay picked up a mishandled puck in the Canisius defensive zone and skated in on Niagara netminder Cody Campbell on a 2-on-1, wristing one low, glove side. 

Niagara pulled even at the 15:15 mark though, during their second man-advantage of the game.  A shot from just inside the blueline by sophomore forward Ryan Rashid snuck past Canisius goaltender Dan Morrison.  It was Rashid's fourth goal of the season.  The goal was assisted by freshman Isaac Kohls and sophomore Matt Williams.   The first period would end with Niagara outshooting Canisius 10-6. 

"I thought in the first period we play really well," added Burkholder.  "We had the puck an awful lot.  Our goal was to outhit them and outshoot them, and we did both of those."

Campbell pushed aside 21 Canisius shots for the game while Morrison made 32 saves.  Niagara is 7-4-2 in the last 13 games against the cross-town rivals.  After tonight's result, Niagara leads Canisius in the Battle of the Bridge series by a 6.5-4.5 margin. 

The Purple Eagles begin their 11-game roadtrip next week when they face off against Cornell at James Lynah Rink on Tuesday, Nov. 22, Niagara's third Tuesday game of the season.  The puck is set to drop at 7 p.m.