Friday, Feb. 2: Live Video | Live Audio | Live Stats | Game Notes (Niagara) | Game Notes (Army)
Saturday, Feb. 3: Live Video | Live Audio | Live Stats | Game Notes (Niagara) | Game Notes (Army)

Games 29-30
Niagara Purple Eagles (11-15-2, 10-10-2 AHC) vs. Army Black Knights (9-11-5, 7-8-5 AHC)
Friday, February 2 – 7:05 PM / Saturday, February 3 – 7:05 PM
Dwyer Arena – West Point, N.Y.
Broadcast: AtlanticHockey.tv
Radio: WLVL 1340 AM - Jeremy White
Internet: Niagara Sports Network

Heading into the final month of the regular season, the Niagara Purple Eagles hockey team holds fifth place in Atlantic Hockey with six games remaining to gain ground in the standings. Niagara is preparing for a tight race to the postseason where every game counts; just eight points separate the top nine teams in the standings, as the Purple Eagles trail first-place teams Canisius and Holy Cross by four points, but also lead ninth-place Air Force by just four points. 

The Purple Eagles wrap up the four-game season series with the Army Black Knights this weekend at Tate Rink. Niagara and Army split the first two games at Dwyer Arena this season while the two teams held the top two seeds in the AHC, with Army taking a 3-1 win before Niagara responded with a 3-2 victory of its own. 

Both of this weekend's games can be streamed live through AtlanticHockey.tv, and Jeremy White has the play-by-play call all weekend on WLVL 1340 AM.

What to Watch For
• As the regular season winds down, the Niagara Purple Eagles hockey team heads on the road for the first two of the final six games of the regular season at Army.
• Earlier this year, Niagara and Army split two games at Dwyer Arena on Nov. 10 and 11, 2017. The Black Knights came back for a 3-1 win the first night before Niagara picked up the split with a 3-2 victory in game two on Veteran's Day.
• On two straight nights last weekend, Niagara trailed the Air Force Falcons by one goal late before an empty-net goal handed the Purple Eagles a two-goal loss. Air Force picked up wins of 4-2 (Jan. 26) and 5-3 (Jan. 27). 
• Five players had two points on the weekend for Niagara, including Hobey Baker candidates Noah Delmas and Derian Plouffe.
• Several of Niagara's freshmen took significant steps forward in the month of January. Nic Mucci ranked second on the team in scoring last month with six assists in nine games, followed by Justin Kendall (1+4 in nine games) and Zach Mills (2+2 in seven games).
• Niagara senior forward Derian Plouffe and sophomore defenseman Noah Delmas were announced on Jan. 16 as nominees for the 2018 Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top player in college hockey.
• Plouffe leads Niagara and is fourth in the AHC with 30 points (15+15). He leads the AHC with three shorthanded goals and is tied for second in the conference in power-play points (13) and game-winning goals (four).
• Delmas is tied for second in the country in scoring by a defenseman with 25 points (3+22), and his 22 assists rank third in Atlantic Hockey. He is also tied with Plouffe in power-play points at 13, ranking first on the team and second in the AHC.

Scouting the Black Knights
• The Black Knights and Purple Eagles face off twice this weekend to settle the four-game season series.
• Army went 1-1-3 in its five league games during the month of January, and also took a 5-0 win in the annual exhibition matchup against Canada's Royal Military College.
• Army, currently eighth in Atlantic Hockey with 19 points and a 7-8-5 record in conference play, is just three points behind fifth-place Niagara in a tight race for the conference's five first-round playoff byes. Just six points separate third-place Mercyhurst and ninth-place Air Force.
• Niagara is 14-6-0 all-time in 20 games against Army, including a 5-3 record at the Black Knights' home, Tate Rink.
• A pair of sophomores lead the Black Knights in scoring, as Michael Wilson paces the team in goals (14) and points (22). Dominic Franco is a close second in scoring on the team with 21 points (7+14), while junior defenseman Dalton MacAfee has a team-high 15 assists. 
• Freshman Jared Dempsey has started nine of Army's last 10 games, and currently holds a 3-4-3 record on the season with a 2.44 goals-against average and .923 save percentage. Senior Cole Bruns has 17 games played this season, including both matchups against Niagara earlier this season, and is 6-7-2 with a 2.65 goals-against average and .913 save percentage.

Plouffe Leads The Way
• After scoring eight points (4+4) in 12 games last season before suffering a season-ending injury, Niagara senior Derian Plouffe matched that exact scoring output in just six games in 2017-18. He is now fourth in the AHC with 30 points in 28 games and has at least one point in 22 of those 28 games.
• On Jan. 5 versus RIT, Plouffe bookended Niagara's run of four unanswered goals to win 4-3, scoring the first goal and the game-winning goal. He also assisted on both of the team's goals in a 2-2 tie on Jan. 6 and had a game-high six shots on goal. Plouffe earned his third Player of the Week honor from Atlantic Hockey on Jan. 9 for the four-point weekend performance.
• Plouffe has excelled on both special teams units. He is tied for third in the AHC in power play points (13) and tied for first in the conference in shorthanded points (four).
• On Jan. 16, Plouffe was nominated for the 2018 Hobey Baker Award, given annually to college hockey's top player.

Delmas On Point
• Niagara sophomore Noah Delmas is ninth in the AHC and leads all AHC defensemen in scoring. Delmas has 25 points in 28 games, tallying three goals and 22 assists.
• Delmas has ranked among the top scoring NCAA defensemen all season, currently sitting second in both assists and points.
• Delmas has at least one point in 20 of 28 games this season after starting the year on an eight-game point streak (1+10).
• Delmas is seven points away from the Niagara record for points in one season by a defenseman. In the 1999-2000 campaign, Chris Mackenzie set the Niagara record for most points by a defenseman with 32 in 38 games, while he and Timo Makela tied for a program-best 27 assists that year.
• On Jan. 16, Delmas was nominated for the 2018 Hobey Baker Award, given annually to college hockey's top player.

Next Men Up
• Senior Stanislav Dzakhov and freshman Nic Mucci have had the hot hands of late for the Purple Eagles. Working on the same forward line, Dzakhov (4+1) and Mucci (0+5) lead the Purple Eagles with five points each in the team's last three games.
• In Niagara's 6-0 win on Jan. 20 at Holy Cross, Dzakhov scored his first career hat trick, and Mucci tallied a career-high three assists.

Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for hockey updates, follow Niagara hockey on Twitter and Instagram. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook.com/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.