Denver, CO—The Niagara hockey team closed out the non-conference portion of their schedule on Saturday night as they faced No. 6 Denver. Niagara fell to the Pioneers 6-1 to close out the weekend.
First Period
The Pioneers got on the board just a minute and a half into the game as they converted on an odd-man rush.
Following the opening goal, Niagara and Denver played a back-and-forth period as shots were 9-8 in favor of Denver.
The Purple Eagles had a 10-8 advantage in the faceoff circle while total shot attempts were tied at 18.
Second Period
Denver extended their lead to 3-0 as they scored a pair of goals at the 6:28 and 9:42 marks of the second period.
The Purple Eagles found themselves on the power play at the 13:24 mark of the period. At the 13:24 mark of the period while on the power play the Purple Eagles got on the board. Luke Mylymok passed the puck to Max Ruoho who walked into the right faceoff circle and took a shot. The shot trickled through the Denver goal and Tyler Wallace tapped home his sixth goal of the season. Ruoho picked up his first assist of the season while it was L. Mylymok's sixth assist of the season.
Denver was held to just four shots on three power plays in the second period.
Niagara generated 12 shots on goal in the second period while having 24 shots attempt.
Third Period
Niagara looked for a comeback in the third period but Denver scored three unanswered goals in the period to make it a 6-1 game.
The Purple Eagles won 12 faceoffs in the third period.
Niagara had one power play opportunity in the third period and had five shots on the man advantage.
Niagara Notes
· Mitchell Day made his first collegiate start on Saturday; he made 34 saves in his third collegiate game.
· Niagara went 1-3 on the power play with seven shots.
· The Purple Eagles blocked 14 shots in the game with Ethan Lund blocking a team high three shots.
· Niagara generated 28 shots in the game. Josef Mysak had five shots to lead Niagara.
· Glebs Prohorenkovs and Wallace each won eight faceoffs. Jack Richard went 7-5 in the faceoff circle and had a team best 58.3 winning percentage.
· 14 of Niagara's 28 shots on goal came from the slot.
Up Next
The Purple Eagles play Atlantic Hockey play for the rest of the season starting on Thursday as they host RIT who is currently ranked 18th in the most recent USCHO poll. On Saturday night Niagara heads to Erie to face Mercyhurst. Puck drop for both games is scheduled for 7 PM.
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