NIAGARA UNIVERSITY MEN'S HOCKEY
Niagara Purple Eagles (6-16-4, 6-10-4-2 Atlantic Hockey) vs. Mercyhurst Lakers (5-20-1, 3-16-1-0 Atlantic Hockey)
GAME 25	Friday, February 7 | 7:05 PM
GAME 26	Saturday, February 8 | 7:05 PM
LIVE VIDEO	flohockey.tv
LIVE AUDIO	PurpleEagles.com
RADIO	1340 AM / 105.3 FM WLVL
GAME NOTES	Niagara
LIVE STATS	Sidearm Stats

Continuing its push for a home playoff series, the Niagara men's hockey team takes on Mercyhurst in a home-and-home series this weekend. The Purple Eagles will host the Friday opener before the series shifts to Erie, Pa. on Saturday.

Matchup Preview

• This is the second series of the season between the Lakers and Purple Eagles. Niagara swept the previous meetings on November 22-23, winning 5-0 on the road, and 3-1 at home.
• Niagara has won each of the last four outings against Mercyhurst, dating back to January 18-19, 2019. The Purple Eagles have outscored the Lakers 20-8 in those matchups.
• All-time, each school is 9-5-2-0 against the other when hosting.
• Niagara has a narrow 16-15-4-0 edge in the series, which dates back to 1996.

 
Playoff Picture

• Niagara enters the weekend in 10th place in the conference (24 points).
• The Lakers (10 points) are last in the Atlantic Hockey table.
• At season's end, seeds six, seven, and eight host first round games against the bottom three teams in the standings. Each of the top five seeds receives a bye into the quarterfinal round of the AHA tournament.
• Six of Niagara's final eight regular season games will be played against teams that are currently above them in the standings. The Purple Eagles have a great chance to close the gap for a first round home playoff series, as they sit just five points back of Holy Cross with two games in hand.

 
Niagara Notes

• In their last time out, the Purple Eagles were swept by Bentley in Massachusetts on January 31 and February 1.
• With his third straight two-point game in the opener at Bentley, Jack Billings became the team's leading point-getter with 17 (9 G, 8 A) in 26 games this season. He ranks first on the team in goals, and third in assists, behind Ryan Naumovski (14) and Noah Delmas (9).
• Chad Veltri and Brian Wilson have identical .919 save percentages on the year. Veltri also holds a 2.46 goals-against average in 659:02 (11 appearances), while Wilson's GAA stands at 2.65 in 882:21 (15 appearances).

Scouting The Lakers

• Mercyhurst is winless in its last five games and is coming off a road sweep at the hands of AIC.
• Steven Ipri leads the Lakers in goals (10) and points (18).
• Garrett Metcalf has played the majority of minutes for Mercyhurst (996:28). In 19 appearances, the redshirt senior has earned a 3.85 goals-against average and an .898 save percentage.

 
Milestone Watch
Player............. Needs........ To Reach............... Note (if applicable)                                          
Noah Delmas.... 1 goal......... 20 career goals....... Would tie Chris Mackenzie for most-ever by Niagara defenseman
Noah Delmas.... 2 assists...... 77 career assists..... Would tie Chris Mackenzie for most ever by Niagara defenseman
Noah Delmas.... 3 points..... 97 career points..... Would tie Chris Mackenzie for most-ever by Niagara defenseman
Noah Delmas.... 10 games... 148 career games... Would become Niagara's all-time leader in appearances
 
Brian Wilson..... 1 win......... 29 career wins....... Would tie Chris Noonan for fifth-most in Niagara history
Brian Wilson..... 1 shutout... 6 career shutouts... Would put him in sole possession of fourth-most in Niagara history
 
 
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