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Game 21
Niagara Purple Eagles (10-9-2, 9-4-2 AHC) vs. Robert Morris Colonials (8-12-1, 7-7-1 AHC)
Tuesday, January 9 – 7:05 PM
Dwyer Arena – Niagara University, N.Y.
Broadcast: AtlanticHockey.tv
Radio: WLVL 1340 AM - Steve Warzala
Internet: Niagara Sports Network

The Niagara Purple Eagles hockey team closes out a three-game home stand Tuesday night, taking on the Robert Morris Colonials at 7:05 p.m. In the first two games of the home stand, Niagara earned a 4-3, come-from-behind victory over the RIT Tigers on Jan. 5, and jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Jan. 6 before RIT rallied to end the weekend with a 2-2 tie. Derian Plouffe led the Purple Eagles with two goals on Friday, including the game-winning goal, before adding two assists in Saturday's tie. Tanner Lomsnes scored one point in each game to cross the 20-point mark, giving Niagara a trio of 20-point scorers for the first time since the 2013-14 campaign.

Niagara and Robert Morris wrap up the two-game season series after the Purple Eagles earned a 4-3 overtime victory back on Oct. 6, 2017. Opening faceoff between the Purple Eagles and Colonials is set for 7:05 p.m. with Steve Warzala on the play-by-play on WLVL 1340 AM.

What to Watch For
• After picking up a 1-0-1 record against the RIT Tigers last weekend, the Niagara Purple Eagles hockey team closes out its current home stand Tuesday night against Robert Morris before starting a four-game road swing on Friday at Mercyhurst.
• On Jan. 5, Niagara rallied from a 3-0 deficit late in the second period against RIT to take a 4-3 win. Derian Plouffe scored the first goal and the game-winning goal in the run of four unanswered tallies, with Ben Sokay and Chris Harpur filling in the run.
• Tanner Lomsnes and Niko Kovachis put Niagara up 2-0 on Jan. 6 before the Tigers rallied to force a 2-2 tie. Plouffe recorded assists on both goals to give him back-to-back two-point games for the Purple Eagles.
• Niagara and Robert Morris conclude their season series on Tuesday after Niagara took a 4-3 overtime victory in the Purple Eagles' home opener on Oct. 6, 2017.
• Niagara leads the all-time series with Robert Morris 30-22-10, and holds a commanding 20-8-3 advantage at Dwyer Arena.
• After scoring four points last weekend, Plouffe ranks fourth in Atlantic Hockey with 25 points (13+12) and is tied for the conference lead in game-winning goals (four), shorthanded goals (two), and power-play points (11).
• Sophomore defenseman Noah Delmas ranks third among all defensemen in the NCAA and leads AHC defensemen with 21 points (1+20), and his 20 assists are third overall in the NCAA and first in the AHC.
• Plouffe and Tanner Lomsnes are tied for 10th in the nation and second in Atlantic Hockey with 13 goals each. Lomsnes had one goal and one assist last weekend in the RIT series to reach the 20-point plateau for the first time in his career.
• In conference play, freshman goaltender Brian Wilson is 8-4-2 with a 2.35 goals-against average and .911 save percentage.

Scouting the Colonials
• The Colonials play Tuesday for the first time since hosting the Three Rivers Classic at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Robert Morris shut out Lake Superior State 5-0 before losing 2-1 to nationally-ranked Providence in the tournament championship.
• Niagara defeated Robert Morris 4-3 in overtime on Oct. 6, 2017, the last meeting between these two teams. Nick Farmer and Tanner Lomsnes each had one goal and one assist, with Lomsnes scoring the game-winning goal.
• Niagara leads the all-time series with Robert Morris 30-22-10, and holds a commanding 20-8-3 advantage at Dwyer Arena.
• The Colonials are led by senior Brady Ferguson, who was voted Atlantic Hockey's Player of the Month for December after scoring 13 points in six games. Ferguson is tied for second in the AHC with 27 points (11+16) in 21 games.
• Like Niagara, Robert Morris also has a trio of 20-point scorers this season, with Ferguson followed up by Michael Louria (9+13) and Luke Lynch (12+8).
• Sophomore Francis Marotte leads the Colonials in goal with a record of 8-8-1, a 2.66 goals-against average, a .914 save percentage, and three shutouts. 

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