Springfield, Mass.—The Niagara Hockey team made the trip to Springfield to take on AHA rival AIC. In the first game of the two game series, after 65 minutes of play the teams were tied at zero. Niagara took the extra point by winning the shootout 1-0.
Game Recap
First Period

• The opening period was a back and forth frame with neither team garnering many great scoring chances. Neither team found the back of the net in the first period.
• Niagara goalie Chad Veltri turned away all 12 AIC shots that he saw while the Purple Eagles had seven shots with Josef Mysak and Ethan Lund leading the way with two each.
• The Purple Eagles blocked seven shots as well with Jason Pineo accounting for three of the blocks.

Second Period

• The second period was similar to the opening period as neither team solved each other's goalie. Niagara was outshot 11-6 in the second but Veltri stood tall to keep the game scoreless.
• There was a total of just five faceoffs in the second period with Niagara winning three of them. The Purple Eagles won 18 of 27 draws through the opening two periods with Pineo leading the way with seven wins on 10 attempts.
• After the opening period saw two penalties aside there were no penalties in the second period. Niagara opened the second on the penalty kill for 29 seconds but killed it off without allowing a shot.

Third Period

• In the final period of regulation nothing changed with both team's goalies saving all the shots they saw. Niagara outshot AIC 10-7 in the third period.
• The Purple Eagles limited AIC scoring chances in third while they also blocked three shots in the third period.
• Niagara was given a penalty with 10 seconds left in regulation and were forced to survive a man down for the final 10 seconds to force overtime. Niagara closed out the third without allowing a shot and the teams went to overtime.

Overtime

• The Purple and White faced a 1:50 4v3 penalty kill to open overtime and killed it off while allowing just one shot.
• Veltri made four saves in overtime while the Purple Eagles generated three shots as the teams' traded stretches of possession.
• After 65 minutes the teams couldn't solve each other, and they went to a shootout.

Shootout

• In the first and second rounds both goalies made saves but in the third round Shane Ott was given a shot. Ott deked and had the goalie beat but could not beat the right post. Veltri responded with a save.
• Head Coach Jason Lammers gave defensemen Mysak a shot in the fourth round of the shootout. Mysak winded in and went five hole for the first goal of the night to give the Purple Eagles the 1-0 lead in the shootout.
• Veltri stayed perfect on the night and stopped AIC's fourth shooter to earn the extra point for Niagara.

Niagara Notes

• Veltri totaled 34 saves on the night as he notched his second shutout of the season and sixth of his career. He entered the weekend as the Atlantic Hockey active leader in shutouts, he now has a two shutout lead.
• The Purple Eagles are now 2-0 this season in shutouts with the other win being against Mercyhurst at home on Oct. 28. Veltri is 6 for 7 in shootout attempts this season.
• The last time Niagara played to a 0-0 tie was also on the road against AIC that resulted in a Niagara shootout win. The game took place on Dec. 14, 2019, current Purple Eagle Ryan Naumovski was the lone current Purple Eagle to participate in the shootout. Niagara won the shootout 1-0.
• Prior to the 2019, 0-0 tie with AIC the last 0-0 tied was in the 2016-17, Niagara tied AIC on the road.
• Niagara blocked 16 shots against AIC on Thursday, Pineo led the way with a game-high four blocks.
• The Purple Eagles won the faceoff battle as they went 27-19 in faceoffs.

Up Next

• The Purple Eagles and Yellow Jackets are back in action tomorrow afternoon at 1 PM from the MassMutual Center.