Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara Hockey team played Colgate in their final home game of 2022 as they looked to complete the weekend sweep of Colgate. The Purple Eagles needed just 1:27 of overtime play to win 3-2 over the Raiders.
Game Recap
First Period

• The pace of the game picked up from last night as there were multiple scoring chances for both teams in the opening period.
• Niagara goalie Chad Veltri was tested on his first shot of the afternoon as Colgate had a great scoring chance in the slot. Veltri pushed off the line and made a huge save with his left pad to keep the game scoreless three minutes into the game.
• The two teams combined for 19 shots on goal in the opening period but neither goalie cracked. Veltri had 10 saves in the period.
• Both teams had two power players in the first period, Niagara had five shots on the advantage while Colgate was limited to two.

Second Period

• In the middle frame the teams once again combined for a ton of shots at they had a 21 combined.
• Neither team scored until the 7:17 mark of the frame. Niagara took advantage of a five on three power play. After the Purple Eagles controlled the puck in the Colgate zone, Josef Mysak fed a pass to Casey Carreau. Carreau launched a laser into the top corner of the net from the top of the circle to open the scoring.
• Colgate responded at the 9:11 mark of the period, the Raiders created traffic in front of the net and Veltri could not locate the puck.
• Niagara took the lead back at the 11:19 mark of the period. Niagara forced a turnover deep in the Colgate zone and after a couple passes, Glebs Prohorenkovs found himself in front of the net with the puck on his stick. He made no mistake and gave the Purple Eagles their lead back. Albin Nilsson and Carreau earned assists on the play.
• With less than 90 seconds remaining in the period, Colgate scored on the power play to tie the game at two.
• Both teams had three power plays in the period and both teams scored once. Colgate had six shots on the man advantage while Niagara had two.

Third Period

• On the shot chart, Colgate controlled play but the Purple Eagles hung tough and when they had chances they were high scoring chances despite having just four shots in the frame.
• Despite 22 Colgate shots the Raiders could not solve Veltri as he turned away all 22 shots.
• After having a combined nine power plays in the first two period, Colgate had the lone power play in the third after a Niagara penalty rolled over into the third.
• After three periods, shots were 46-20 in favor of Colgate but the game was going to overtime.

Overtime

• After Colgate controlled the puck to start overtime and generated one shot the Purple Eagles gained control and tried their hand at scoring but could not generate a shot.
• The Raiders went down the ice and Veltri made a save, all three Raiders were deep in the zone as Ryan Cox forced a turnover. Cox chopped it out of the zone and Shane Ott used his speed and fended off a backchecking defender. Ott went to his forehand and snuck it past the goalie's right pad to end the game and give Niagara their fifth straight win.

Niagara Notes

• Niagara is now 4-0-0 in non-conference play, they are the only team in Atlantic Hockey to be undefeated outside of conference play.
• Veltri made 46 saves which is the most he has made since Mar. 3, 2021, against Robert Morris. He made 49 saves in the 3-2 win.
• Ott scored his second game winning goal on Saturday after scoring his first on Friday with a third period goal. He is now tied with Cox for the team lead.
• With an assist on the game winning goal, Cox increased his point total to 14 which leads the team and is seventh in the AHA. His 1.17 points per game is fourth.
• Niagara blocked 15 shots, David Posma led the way with four blocks while Christian Gorscak had three to lead the forward group. Niagara still leads the conference with 201 blocks and is averaging 16.75 a game which also leads the conference.

Up Next

• The Purple Eagles go on the road until the new year. Next weekend they are back into conference play as they take on Army on Friday and Saturday.