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| PURPLE EAGLES MEN'S HOCKEY |
| WEEK 17 |
Bentley Falcons (14-11-3, 13-7-2 AHA) at Niagara Purple Eagles (10-16-3, 9-11-3 AHA) |
| GAME 30 |
Thursday, Feb. 14 | 7 PM |
| GAME 31 |
Friday, Feb. 15 | 7 PM |
| LOCATION |
Dwyer Arena – Niagara Univ., NY |
| TICKETS |
Ticketmaster.com |
| RADIO |
1340 AM / 105.3 FM WLVL |
| LIVE VIDEO |
StretchInternet.com |
| LIVE AUDIO |
PurpleEagles.com |
| LIVE STATS |
Sidearm Stats |
The Niagara men's hockey team will continue its pursuit of a first-round bye in the Atlantic Hockey playoffs when they host the nation's hottest team, Bentley, in Dwyer Arena on Thursday and Friday. The Purple Eagles currently reside in seventh place in the conference with 21 points, four points behind Air Force and RIT, who are both tied for third place.
Matchup Preview
- This will be the only time this year Bentley and Niagara face off against each other. It will also be the fourth consecutive season in which the Falcons come to Monteagle Ridge without Niagara paying a return visit.
- Since the last time the Purple Eagles went to Waltham, Mass., they have a 3-2-1 record against Bentley. Last season, Niagara took three points in the two-game series on November 3-4.
- Since Bentley and Niagara first met in 2010, the Purple Eagles are 9-3-4 against the east coast foe.
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Niagara Notes
- The Purple Eagles are coming off a home sweep at the hands of Sacred Heart. Despite the results last weekend, Niagara brings a 6-4-2 record at Dwyer Arena into this series.
- Ludwig Stenlund continues to rewrite Niagara's record book, as he now owns the longest scoring streak in program history. He broke Ryan Murphy's five-game mark at AIC on February 2, then extended it with power play goals in each of the team's games against the Pioneers. Stenlund is also tied for first in the country with three shorthanded goals this season.
- Noah Delmas continues to be one of the nation's most productive points-getters from the blue line. With 28 points (9 G, 19 A), Delmas is tied for sixth in Division I among defensemen.
- Brian Wilson's 3.01 goals against average ranks seventh in Atlantic Hockey.
Scouting The Falcons
- Bentley enters this series unbeaten in 11 straight games – the longest active streak in the country. The Falcons have gone 9-0-2 since returning from winter break on January 5, and have earned 18 of 20 possible points against AHA opponents in that span. Their play has vaulted them from 10th place entering January 5 to second place entering this weekend.
- Following a 5-11-1 start, the Falcons have outscored their opposition 54-22. They have two road sweeps, of Robert Morris and Air Force, and have not lost an away conference contest since November 10.
- Despite having missed two games, junior Jonathan Desbiens leads the Falcons with 13 goals scored on 68 shots, a nearly 20 percent success rate. Converting shots to goals, Bentley leads the country with a .129 success rate.
- Only five players on Bentley's roster have plus/minus rating below zero. On the other end of the spectrum, five players have a plus/minus rating above plus-10. As a team, the Falcons have a plus-23 rating, tops in Atlantic Hockey and 11th in the country.
- Aside from one game in which he was removed due to injury, Aidan Pelino has played nearly every minute in net for Bentley this season. His 1649:27 minutes in the crease rank sixth nationally and pace Atlantic Hockey.
