Rochester, N.Y.—The Niagara hockey closed out the season series with No. 19 RIT on Saturday as the Purple Eagles made the trip to Rochester. Niagara fell 4-2 to the Tigers.
First Period
The opening stanza saw neither team get on the scoreboard as RIT held a 13-6 advantage in the shot column.
The Purple Eagles were credited with five blocked shots and Josef Mysak had two in the period to pace Niagara.
Niagara went 12-8 in the faceoff circle in the first period with Glebs Prohorenkovs winning a team high five faceoffs.
Second Period
Just 2:15 into the second period, the Purple Eagles broke the ice as Olivier Gauthier scored his third of the year. Cole Mickel won a battle in the Niagara end and Prohorenkovs picked up the puck and passed the puck to Olivier Gauthier. Gauthier tipped the puck around the RIT defensemen and took the puck off the boards and went in on a two on one with Luke Mylymok. Instead of passing, Gauthier took a wicked wrister that beat the RIT goalie short side. Prohorenkovs picked up his fifth assist of the season on the play. Mickel picked up his second assists of the season. It was the 10th time this season Niagara scored first.
Niagara doubled their lead at the 13:47 mark of the second period. Lane Brockhoff picked up the puck deep in the Niagara zone and fired a stretch pass to Lars Rodne who was behind the RIT defensemen. Rodne went in and faked to his backhand and went back to his forehand for his sixth goal of the season. Brockhoff picked up his third assist of the season.
Niagara went to the locker room leading 2-0 after outshooting RIT 11-6 in the second period.
Third Period
Niagara looked to close out the final frame of the season series against RIT.
The Tigers scored four straight goals starting at the 5:02 mark of the third which included an empty net goal with 42 seconds left in the period.
The Purple Eagles went in the faceoff circle going 11-9 with Tyler Wallace and Prohorenkovs each winning four while Jack Richard won the remaining three.
After surrendering the lead Niagara had 14 shot attempts in hope to force overtime.
Niagara Notes
· Despite Niagara's loss tonight the Purple Eagles took 5 out of the 9 possible points of the season series against RIT.
· Niagara held off the Tigers off the scoreboard on the powerplay as they went 0-4 on the man advantage.
· Jarrett Fiske made 30 saves in the loss; it was his 15th career game with 30+ saves in a game.
· Niagara blocked 20 shots in the game with Mysak blocking a game high five blocked shots.
· The Purple Eagles edged out RIT 32-28 in faceoffs with both Prohorenkovs and Wallace each winning 10 faceoffs.
· Niagara is 8-8-2 in AHA play this season with 26 points.
Up Next
The Purple Eagles close out the season series with Battle of the Bridge rival Canisius on Tuesday at 6 PM at the LECOM HarborCenter.
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