Men's Hockey | 11/7/2008 10:54:16 PM
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LEWISTON, NY – Niagara's power-play scored four times in the game's 26 minutes, jumping out to a 5-1 lead and defeating the RIT men's hockey team (3-5-1, 2-1-1 AHA), 6-2 in a non-conference contest before a packed house at Dwyer Arena on Friday. RIT had its two-game winning streak snapped.
RIT struggled on the power-play, going just 1-for-13, also failing to score during a full two-minute, two-man advantage in the second period. The Tigers also gave up a shorthanded goal. RIT scored five power-play goals in last weekend's sweep against Holy Cross.
RIT goaltender Louis Menard (Chicoutimi, Quebec/Ottawa Senators) (Chicoutimi, Quebec) played well, despite allowing the six goals. He had virtually no chance on all six goals. Four of the six goals were scored at the side of the Tiger net, two were on odd-man rushes, and one on a breakway. RIT's aggressive penalty killing, which was so successful against Holy Cross last weekend, was exploited by Niagara, which kept finding the open man in front of Menard.
Tyler Brenner (Linwood, Ontario/Elmira Sugar Kings) (Linwood, Ontario) and# Brennan Sarazin (Nepean, Ontario/Nepean Raiders)# (Nepean, Ontario) scored for RIT.
The Tigers out-shot Niagara, 26-20. Juliano Pagliero made 24 saves, including four tremendous stops in the third period, while RIT was pressing, to earn the win for Niagara.
The referees decided to take control of the game early and often, calling 10 minors, none coincidental in a relatively non-physical first period of play. Overall, 23 non-coincidental penalties were called, 13 on Niagara and 10 on RIT.
Already on the power-play, the Purple Eagles were awarded a 5-on-3 in the final seconds of the first period, as Stevan Matic (Burnaby, British Columbia/Langley Hornets) (Burnaby, British Columbia) was clearly hauled down in front of the Niagara net, sliding into goaltender Pagliero. Unfortunately for RIT, Matic was the one called for goaltender interference. The call incensed the RIT bench, resulting in a second penalty, a bench minor.
Niagara took full advantage with one second left in the period, as Chris Moran lifted a puck over a sprawling Menard, after the goaltender made an absolutely unbelievable save on Vince Rocco in front of the net on the first attempt.
The Purple Eagles kept up their power-play success, right before RIT almost killed off 1:45 of a 5-on-3 to start the period. Once again, Menard made a tremendous save on Tyler Gotto, but Ross was there to shove home a loose puck at the side of the net at the 1:36 mark.
RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson thought that was one of the turning points of the game.
”You have to overcome adversity in those situations, keep quiet and not get involved,” said Wilson. “Now we are trying to kill off two 5-on-3's in a row, instead of one and we could not do that. Then we get the 5-on-3 power-play in the second and can't score. That would have made the score 5-3 and changes everyone's mindset. We could not adjust to their aggressive penalty killing, as they blocked a ton of shots. Tonight was a learning experience for us."
Niagara scored its lone even strength goal on the evening just 1:01 later, as Egor Mironov ripped a laser of a shot from the slot past a sliding Menard on a 2-on-1 break
Moran potted his second of the game at the 6:43 mark, once again from in close on a power-play, after Menard made a big stop on the initial chance.
After David Ross opened the scoring 7:44 into the game, RIT tied the game with a power-play goal of its own, as Brenner jammed home a loose puck at the side of the Niagara net, after Chris Haltigin's (Oakville, Ontario) point shot was deflected by Andrew Favot (King City, Ontario/Aurora Tigers) (King City, Ontario) past Pagliero and off the post. The rebound caromed right to Brenner, who scored his fourth goal of the year.
Sarazin cut the Niagara lead to 5-2 at the 7:14 mark of the second period, slamming home a rebound at the side of the net for his fourth goal of the season. #Cameron Burt (Detroit, Mich./Green Bay Gamblers)# (Detroit, MI) stole a Niagara pass in the offensive zone, came in alone and rang a wrister off the post. Just like RIT's first goal, Sarazin was there at the side of the net to stuff the rebound home.
Niagara leads the all-time series 5-3-3. RIT is now 0-3-1 against the Purple Eagles since moving to Division I in 2005. Last season, the two teams skated to a 3-3 draw at Ritter Arena, as Sarazin scored a power-play goal with 1:04 left in regulation to tie the game for RIT. Niagara won the last meeting between the two teams at Dwyer Arena, 3-2, on Nov. 19, 2005.
RIT is back in action next weekend, as they host Atlantic Hockey foe Army in a two-game series at Ritter Arena. Both Friday and Saturday's contests begin at 7:05 p.m.
