Game Notes
Friday’s Live Stats  ¦  Friday’s Live Audio
Saturday’s Live Stats  ¦  Saturday’s Live Audio
Sunday's Live Stats (if necessary)  ¦  Sunday's Live Audio (if necessary)

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. –­ After claiming the 2013 Atlantic Hockey Regular Season Title, the No. 14/15 Niagara Purple Eagles begin their quest for their first AHA Tournament crown when Niagara hosts RIT in a best-of-three quarterfinal series from March 15-17, at Dwyer Arena.
 
The top-seeded Purple Eagles (21-8-5; 20-5-2 AHA) and eighth-seeded Tigers (15-16-5; 11-12-4 AHA) open the series Friday at 7:05 p.m.  The teams will meet again on Saturday at 7:05 p.m., and if necessary, will wrap up the series on Sunday for a 7:05 p.m. puck drop.  The winner advances to Rochester for the AHA semifinals.
 
Tune In
The trio of games versus RIT will be broadcasted live on WJJL 1440 AM and PurpleEagles.com, with Paul Hamilton and Jeremy White on the call for Friday’s game and Jeremy White and Steve Warzala on the call for Saturday and Sunday, if necessary. 
 
Live stats can be accessed by clicking the appropriate link at the Official Website of Purple Eagle Athletics, www.PurpleEagles.com.
 
Tickets Are Still Available!
Tickets for all three games are on sale so contact the Niagara Ticket Office (located inside Dwyer Arena) at 716-286-TIXX, visit www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets or emailing Ticket@PurpleEagles.com to reserve your seats today!     
 
No Place Like Dwyer
The victory over Mercyhurst on Feb. 22 extended NU’s current home ice unbeaten streak to 20 games, dating back to the Purple Eagles 3-3 draw against Air Force on Feb. 11, 2012.  The team is two shy of tying the program record of 22 games when NU was the only team in Division I hockey to go 22 consecutive games without a loss between Feb.11, 2006 and Nov. 17, 2007.
 
Postseason Games at Home
Niagara is 5-3-0 in the eight postseason games played at Dwyer Arena, starting with the 2002 CHA Tournament.
 
Scouting the Tigers
The No. 8 seed RIT enter the series with a 15-16-5 record, going 11-12-4 in AHA action.  The Tigers defeated AIC in three games in the first round to advance in to the quarterfinals. 
 
The Tigers are led by Chris Saracino who is tops on the team in points (32) with 11 goals and 21 assists, while Matt Garbowsky is one point behind his teammate with 10 goals and 21 helpers.  Michael Colavecchia (12-17-29) and Greg Noyes (9-20-29) have also provided solid play for RIT.   
 
Goaltending duties have been split between Josh Watson and Jordan Ruby.  Each have played in 19 games—Waston owns a .905 save percentage and a 3.03 goals-against average, while Ruby has a .908 save percentage to go along with his 3.15 GAA. 
 
We Meet Again
This is the second time in three AHA postseasons the Purple Eagles and RIT have squared off with Niagara coming in as the higher seed, but the first time they are meeting in the quarterfinals. In 2012, the third-seeded Tigers pushed second-seeded Purps out of the playoffs with an overtime victory in the semifinals.
 
Not On Our Turf
RIT has never won at Dwyer Arena, going 0-6-4.
 
Heating Up
Last season, Giancarlo Iuorio entered the post season with four goals, three assists and seven points in his last five games.  He added a goal and two assists during playoff action.  This season, the senior is headed into the AHA quarterfinals with nine points in his last six games—four goals and five assists. 
 
Mighty Murphy
Ryan Murphy is the first Purple Eagle to hit the 30-point mark since the 2010-11 season when Paul Zanette (55), Bryan Haczyk (45) and Giancarlo Iuorio (33) each surpassed the milestone.
 
The 32-point season is not only a career-high for the junior, with his previous highest point total coming last season at 16, but his current point total is more than his first two seasons combined.

Between The Pipes
Carsen Chubak is fifth in the nation in save percentage (.941), fourth in winning percentage (.758) and eighth in the nation in goals-against average (1.85).  The netminder holds the top spot in shutouts with six.