Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara Hockey team tied 4-4 with Mercyhurst but earned the extra point by winning 2-1 in a shootout over the Lakers.
Game Recap
First Period

• The two teams separated by just 117 miles played a fast and open first ten minutes as the teams traded shots with a few scoring opportunities.
• Niagara opened the scoring at the 9:23 mark of the first period as Lars Rodne scored his third of the season. Rodne came out of the corner after a scrum and waited out the goalie and ripped it into the back of the net. Albin Nilsson and Casey Carreau picked up assists on the play for their third and fourth assists of the year.
• Less than three minutes later, Niagara doubled their lead. Carter Randklev was the beneficiary of a beautiful pass from Shane Ott and all he had to do was tap it past the netminder. Ryan Cox also picked up his third assist of the season on the goal.
• After the opening period, the Purple Eagles led 2-0 and were outshooting the Lakers 9-6. Niagara also dominated in the faceoff circle winning 14 of 19 draws.

Second Period

• With a new goalie in net for the Lakers, Niagara were not the best of hosts as they scored just 1:08 into the period. Ott drove to the net and tapped in rebound from a Cox shot. Randklev made a beautiful no look pass to set up Cox and picked up his third assist of the season.
• Exactly six minutes later at the 7:08 mark, Niagara extended their lead. While on the penalty kill Olivier Gauthier forced a turnover in the neutral zone and went in alone on the goalie. The Ferme-Neuve, QC native made no mistake and ripped it glove side past the goalie.
• Mercyhurst scored at the 16:31 mark of the period and then once again 24 seconds later to make it 4-2.
• Neither team scored in the final three minutes of the period and Niagara went to the locker room up 4-2.
• After two periods Mercyhurst led in shots 21-18 after generating 15 shots in the period.
• Niagara still led in the faceoff dot 19-16.

Third Period

• Mercyhurst made it a one goal game just under five and a half minutes into the period.
• The Lakers evened the game at the 11 minute mark of the period.
• Despite the Purple Eagles outshooting Mercyhurst in the third period the teams went to overtime.
• In the third the Purple Eagles outshot Mercyhurst 12-10 while faceoffs were even.

Overtime

• In the overtime period, the two teams traded chances left and right. Chad Veltri saved the game just over a minute into overtime as he made a sprawling save to keep the puck out of the net.
• Niagara looked to have a chance to end it but they were called for to many men on the ice and were forced to go to the penalty kill.
• The Purple Eagles limited the Lakers to just one shot on goal on the four on three power play.
• Despite all the chances and open ice neither team scored a game winner in the five minutes. The game ended in a tie but went to a shootout for the extra point.

Shootout

• In the first round, both the Mercyhurst shooter and Cox were denied.
• Ott hopped over the boards to take the second attempt. He faked to his backhand and went back forehand and beat the goal. Mercyhurst also scored on their attempt.
• Casey Carreau had his shot to put the Purple Eagles ahead. He walked in and made a couple quick moves and froze the goalie and scored.
• Veltri had a chance to get the Purple Eagles the extra point. The Pittsburgh native made the save with his right pad to secure the two points.

Niagara Notes

• Niagara blocked 23 shots in the game while Veltri made 30 saves in his return to the crease for the Purple Eagles.
• The Purple Eagles were 3-3 on the penalty kill while allowing just four shots to get to Veltri.
• Randklev, Cox, and Ott all had multi point games for the Purple Eagles. The three now have a combined 21 points in 21 combined games with Cox leading the team with eight.
• This is the first shootout win for Niagara since Feb. 25, 2022 when they beat AIC on the road. It is their first shootout win at home since Nov. 19, 2021 against Army. They are 4-1 in their last five shootouts dating back to the shortened 2020-21 season.

Up Next

• Niagara travels to Erie, Pa. tomorrow to close out the weekend home and home series with Mercyhurst, puckdrop is at 7:05 PM.