SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Niagara (11-19-3, 6-6-2 AHA) and AIC (17-12-3, 10-5-2) played to a 1-1 draw Friday afternoon, with the Purple Eagles securing the bonus point after winning the shootout, 2-0.
Brandon Stanley picked up Niagara's lone goal of the contest and
Chad Veltri stopped 22 of 23 shots.
Game Recap
First Period
• AIC scored the first goal of the contest 5:16 into the first period.
• Five of Niagara's 11 shots in the first period went on goal.
Chad Veltri stopped six of seven AIC shots.
• The Purple Eagles killed the lone AIC power play in the period.
Second Period
• Niagara had two power play opportunities in the second and both times the Purple Eagles came up empty.
• With four minutes remaining in the middle stanza
Brandon Stanley would find the back of the net to tie things at 1-1. Jack Zeilinski and
Jon Hill set up their teammate for his third goal of the season.
• After two periods of play, the Purple Eagles would hold an 11-9 advantage in shots on goal.
Third Period
• Niagara would get a late power play as AIC was called for boarding with 4:52 remaining in the contest.
• The Purple and White would put three shots on goal in the period, compared to 12 from AIC.
• Veltri stopped all 12 shots he saw in the frame to bring his saves total to 20 at the end of regulation.
Overtime
• Niagara had five shots on goal in the five-minute overtime period.
• Veltri stopped both AIC shots in OT, moving his saves total to 22.
Shootout
•
Ryan Cox and
Walker Sommer scored shootout goals and
Chad Veltri sent away both Yellow Jacket shots.
• Niagara earned the bonus point with the shootout win.
Niagara Notes
• Today's contest was Niagara's first overtime game since Jan. 22 at RIT. It was also the first time the Purple and White went to a shootout since picking up a bonus point on Nov. 19 against Army.
•
Chris Harpur and Cox led the way with three shots on goal this afternoon, while five other Purple Eagles recorded two shots on goal.
• Cox won a team-best 10 faceoffs, followed by Pineo with eight and
Albin Nilsson with seven.
• Niagara won a total of 30 faceoffs, compared to 26 for AIC.
• The Purple and White finished the game 0-for-4 on the power play, but the special teams unit did successfully kill of the lone AIC power play.
Up Next
• Niagara and AIC will conclude the 2021-22 regular season tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. from the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass.
