NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Leaning heavily on its back end and penalty kill units, the Niagara men's hockey team emerged victorious in Sunday's winner-take-all game three against Canisius in the first round of the Atlantic Hockey playoffs. The Purple Eagles scored twice in the second, then hung on to a 2-1 lead in the waning seconds of the third period to stave off the Golden Griffins. As a team, Niagara worked to block 20 shots by the Canisius attack.
 
Game Recap

• With 30 seconds to go in the opening frame, Canisius poured on pressure in tight, but Brian Wilson jammed his skate and mitt to the post to seal off the lower corner of the net.
• After Niagara killed off the game's first penalty, Jared Brandt put the Purple Eagles on the board first by hitting home an Alex Truscott rebound 5:33 into the second period.
• Ben Sokay made it a 2-0 game by takiing a cross-ice feed from Eric Cooley and patiently waiting for the top corner to open up, allowing him to bang home his third goal of the series.
• Niagara found itself shorthanded in the second, but the Purple Eagles created an offensive rush with Ludwig Stenlund leading the charge up the right boards. Stenlund slipped a gorgeous pass back to Jack Zielinski, who was all by himself at the left point. Zielinski wristed a shot in but saw it sail just wide.
• With 2:13 remaining in regulation and clinging to a 2-1 lead, the Purple Eagles were whistled for an elbowing call that gave Canisius a chance to tie the game with a power play. 45 seconds into the man advantage, the Griffs pulled the goalie to make it a 6-on-4 opportunity, but Wilson and the Niagara defense didn't blink, turning aside every chance Canisius could manage before the final horn sounded.

 
Beyond The Boxscore

• Jason Lammers became the first head coach in program history to eliminate Canisius in a postseason meeting. The Purple Eagles are now 3-7 in 10 all-time games against the Golden Griffins.
• Ben Sokay finished the series with three goals in three games, including tonight's game-winner and the tying goal in game one with 12 seconds left in regulation.

 
Up Next

• Niagara's season will continue with another three-game series in Colorado Springs. The Purple Eagles will pay another visit to third-seeded Air Force next weekend in the AHA Quarterfinals, with games on March 15 and 16, and a third game on March 17 if necessary. Times for all games are still to be announced.

 
 
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