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SPRINGFIELD, MA – The RIT men’s hockey team (15-8-2, 14-4-1 Atlantic Hockey) scored the game’s final five goals en route to a 6-2 win over American International College at the Olympia Ice Arena on Friday evening.
RIT trailed 2-1 with just over a minute left in the second period when the goal barrage began.
Matt Smith (Toronto, ON/Kitchener Dutchmen) (Toronto, ON) tied the game at 2 on the powerplay with 1:07 left in the second, as he took a great cross-ice feed from
Steve Pinizzotto (Mississauga, ON/Oakville Blades) (Mississauga, ON) and had nothing but a wide open net to shoot in to. The goal was Smith’s 10
th power-play goal of the season, moving him into second in the nation.
Ricky Walton (Hamilton, ON/Hamilton Red Wings) (Hamilton, ON) gave the Tigers the lead for good with just one second left in the period, as he slammed home a rebound off a shot from
Stephen Burns (Newmarket, ON/Newmarket Hurricanes) (Newmarket, ON). Burns took a feed from
Brad Harris (Winnipeg, MB/Leamington Flyers) (Winnipeg, Manitoba), walked into the slot a took a wrist shot that bounced off the shoulder of Tom Fenton and right to Walton at the side of the goal.
The Tigers tacked on three third period goals, one on the power-play, shorthanded and even strength.
AIC took two penalties 25 seconds apart early in the third period and RIT took advantage, scoring with just one second left on the 5-on-3.
Pinizzotto potted his 11th of the year, redirecting a centering pass from Mazur, 2:45 into the period to make it 4-2 Tigers.
Darrell Draper (Tigard, OR/Cowichon Capitals) (Tigard, OR) upped the RIT lead to 5-2 as he took a pass from a diving
Brad Harris (Winnipeg, MB/Leamington Flyers) and beat Fenton on a shorthanded breakway.
Anton Kharin (Moscow, Russia/Bay State Breakers) (Moscow, Russia) tallied the final goal late in the period, as he converted a cross-ice pass from
Simon Lambert (Ste.-Therese, PQ/Cumberland Grads) (Ste. Therese, PQ) after Lambert went around two AIC defensemen.
AIC out-shot RIT 37-32.
Jocelyn Guimond (Quebec City, PQ/Williams Lake) (Quebec City, PQ) was excellent in the net for RIT, stopping 35 shots to pick up his eight win of the season. He was especially huge in the second period, making many key stops to keep the game close.
The Tiger special teams was stout, scoring two power-play goals in four chances and holding the Yellow Jackets scoreless in four man-advantage attempts.
Smith had two goals for the Tigers. Pinizzotto had a goal and assist, while
Brad Harris (Winnipeg, MB/Leamington Flyers), Patry and
Al Mazur (Burnaby, BC/Langley Hornets) (Burnaby, BC) each had two assists.
Tiger Head Coach
Wayne Wilson was not too thrilled with his team’s effort in the first two periods, but was glad with final outcome.
“We didn’t play a great game,” said Wilson. “No matter where teams are in the standings, they are going to bring their A-1 game. It is nice that we broke away, and did bear down in the third period, putting the game away.”
Smith scored the lone goal of the first period, as he took a feed from Mazur right before the AIC blue-line, took one stride over the line ripped a slap shot past Fenton for his 15th of the year.
The Tigers just missed going up 2-0 right before the period ended, as
Brennan Sarazin (Nepean, ON/Nepean Raiders) (Nepean, ON) roofed a rebound over the gaping AIC net.
AIC out-shot RIT 13-9 over the first 20 minutes of play
The Yellow Jackets came out flying in the second period, getting many of the quality chances. Fortunately for RIT, both teams potted a pair of goals and the stanza ended 3-2 Tigers.
Guimond kept it 1-0 Tigers with a pad save on a breakaway attempt by Bryan Jurynec less than a minute into the period.
Greg Genovese and
Matt Woodard scored consecutive second period goals for AIC (4-19-0, 4-15-0 AHA). Fenton made 26 saves.
RIT is now 5-0-1 all-time against the Yellow Jackets and have won all three meetings against AIC this season by a combined score of 22-5.
The Tigers and Yellow Jackets complete their season series on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.
