Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara hockey team picked up a crucial three points on Friday night at Dwyer Arena as they took down Army 6-3.
First Period
Niagara opened the scoring just 4:33 into the game as Tyler Wallace notched his ninth goal of the season. Lane Brockhoff started the play in the Niagara zone with a long breakout pass to Carter Randklev, Randklev gained the Army blueline and looked for a pass. He found Wallace streaking to the net and passed him the puck, Wallace went to his backhand and gave the Purple Eagles a 1-0 lead.
With Army on the power play, the Black Knight scored at the 7:11 mark of the period to tie the game at one.
The Purple Eagles were quick to respond with a power play goal of their own as Josef Mysak got his second goal of the season on a point shot. Mysak started the play in the Niagara zone and saw a streaking Shane Ott on the wall, Ott took the puck and flew into the Army zone, Ott threw it the high slot where Wallace took the pass and dropped it to Mysak. Mysak took a wrister with two Army players in front of him to give Niagara a 2-1 lead.
Niagara wasn't done in the first period, with 89 seconds left in the period, Carter Randklev gave Niagara a two-goal lead. Wallace won a faceoff deep in the Army zone and the puck was picked up by Noah Hackett. Hackett took a shot but the puck was deflected but still made it to the Army net, Randklev picked the rebound and went to his backhand for his eighth of the season.
The Purple Eagles outshot Army 11-9 in the first period.
Second Period
Army made a goalie change to start the second period.
The Purple Eagles tallied their fourth goal of the game just 4:34 into the period and Luke Mylymok scored his ninth of the season. L. Mylymok took a breakout pass from Alex Murray, L. Mylymok gained the Army blueline and curled to the high slot and took a wicked wrister that beat the Army netminder to his blocker side.
Just under five minutes later at the 9:13 mark, Drew Vieten scored his second goal of the season for Niagara's fifth goal of the night. Mysak broke the puck out of the Niagara zone, Ott took the pass near the end of his shift and threw a sauce pass that led Vieten into the Army zone. Vieten took a wicked wrister that gave Niagara a 5-1 lead.
Before the end of the second period Army responded with their second goal of the game.
Niagara led 5-2 and were outshooting the Black Knights 22-19 after 40 minutes.
Third Period
Army attempted a comeback attempt early in the third as they scored on the power play at the 3:36 mark.
Niagara erased any comeback opportunity at the 11:36 mark with their second power play goal of the night.Lars Rodne won a puck battle on the side wall and passed the puck to Glebs Prohorenkovs in the high slot. Prohorenkovs passed the puck to Jack Richard in the far circle, Richard surveyed for a pass and found Rodne on the backside looking at a wide-open net. Richard fired a laser to Rodne who buried his eighth goal of the season.
Niagara outshot the Black Knights 14-12 in the third to secure the win.
Niagara Notes
· Jarrett Fiske made 28 saves in his 11th win of the season.
· Niagara scored twice on the power play and are now 5-13 in the last two games.
· Rodne extended his point streak to eight games, it is the longest point streak by a Purple Eagle since the 2020-21 season when Walker Sommer had an eight-game point streak.
· Niagara is now 19-11-4 against Army all-time and 12-5-2 at home against the Black Knights.
· Four Purple Eagles had multi point nights including Wallace who notched his first career three point game.
· Niagara is now 10-0-2 this season when scoring four or more goals.
· Prohorenkovs led the team with 16 faceoff wins while he won 57.1% of his draws.
· Niagara is 7-3-3 this season at home.
· The Purple Eagles have picked up at least one point in four straight games while having points in nine of the last 10 games.
· Niagara has 35 points this season and is tied with Air Force for sixth in the conference. Niagara has at least one game in hand against every Atlantic Hockey team except for Mercyhurst.
· L. Mylymok and Wallace are tied for the team lead with nine goals while Randklev is tied with Wallace with a team high 22 points.
Up Next
The Purple Eagles close out the series with Army on Saturday at 5 PM at Dwyer Arena.
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