Men's Hockey | 1/4/2009 5:08:20 AM
Click here for game stats
WALTHAM, MA – The RIT men's hockey team (10-9-1, 9-4-1 Atlantic Hockey Association) scored four unanswered goals, including three in the first seven minutes of the second period to earn its fifth straight win, 4-2 over Bentley (6-9-1, 5-6-1 Atlantic Hockey Association) at the John A. Ryan Skating Center on Saturday.
The Tigers have now won five straight for the first time since Feb. 23 to March 8, 2008. RIT is also over .500 for the first time in 2008-09.
The line of Andrew Favot (King City, Ontario/Aurora Tigers) (King City, Ontario), #Matt Crowell (Kelowna, British Columbia/Williams Lake Timberwolves)# (Kelowna, British Columbia) and Jesse Newman (Kelowna, British Columbia/Trail Smokeeaters) (Kelowna, British Columbia) led the way offensively for the second straight game. Favot and Crowell had a goal and an assist each, while Newman dished out two assists.
RIT's special teams were sensational, going 3-for-8 on the power-play while killing off all six Bentley power-plays. The Tigers tallied two goals on 5-on-3 power-plays. RIT killed off all 11 Bentley power-plays over the weekend.
The Tigers have out-scored their opponents 21-12 during their five-game winning streak.
Bentley out-shot RIT, 29-28. RIT goaltender #Louis Menard (Chicoutimi, Quebec/Ottawa Senators)# (Chicoutimi, Quebec) made his first start since Nov. 30 and stopped 27 shots, including all 14 third period shots he faced to earn his third win of the year.
”I was pretty happy throughout,” said Wilson. “We were pretty solid throughout. Our power-play got some goals, and our penalty-killing was excellent. It wasn't a pretty win, but we are happy to get out of here with four points. It was a great team effort, and we were strong in a lot of different areas.”
Both teams stuck once in the first period.
Bentley got on the board first, just 1:21 in, as Dain Prewitt wristed a shot past Menard from the slot after a scrum at the Tiger blueline in which Bentley was clearly offside, but was not seen by the officials. Anthony Canzoneri picked up the loose puck and sprung Prewitt.
RIT tied the game at the 11:06 mark of the period, on a 5-on-3 power-play, as junior defenseman Dan Ringwald (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Blades) (Oakville, Ontario) snapped a shot from the high slot that went through a maze of bodies and eluded Calvi. The goal was Ringwald's second of the season. Trevor Eckenswiller (Lions Head, Ontario/Oakville Blades) (Lions Head, Ontario) and Tyler Brenner (Linwood, Ontario/Elmira Sugar Kings) (Linwood, Ontario) set up Ringwald.
RIT out-shot Bentley 12-9 over the opening 20 minutes of play.
The Tigers surged ahead to stay, scoring three times in the first 7:01 of the period to take a 4-1 lead.
Crowell ripped a perfect wrist shot from the right wing on a 2-on-1 with Favot over the shoulder of Calvi and off the crossbar to make it 2-1 Tigers. #Bobby Raymond (Lucknow, Ontario/Owen Sound)# (Lucknow, Ontario) made a great play at the RIT blue-line to spring Favot who found Crowell at the Bentley blue line. Crowell skated in a put his seventh of the season home.
RIT received another 5-ono-3 power-play just a few minutes later and made Bentley pay, as the trio of Favot, Crowell and Newman struck again. Crowell fired a pass to Newman at the right side of the Bentley net. Newman then one-touched a pass to Favot, who slid the puck into the open net for his sixth goal of the year.
Freshman defenseman Chris Haltigin (Oakville, Ontario/Oakville Blades) (Oakville, Ontario) scored his third goal in the last three games, once again on the power-play at the 7:01 mark of the second period to give RIT a 4-1 lead. Justin Hofstetter (Bright, Ontario/Cambridge Winterhawks) (Bright, Ontario) found Newman behind the net, who fed Haltigin in the high slot. Haltigin spun and put a high shot past Calvi.
Bentley cut the RIT lead to 4-2 late in the second, as Aaron Stonacek picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone, just as a Bentley penalty was set to expire. He skated into the Tigers zone a ripped a shot from his off wing past Menard.
RIT out-shot Bentley 12-6 in the period and held a 24-15 edge after two periods of play.
The Tigers were content to sit back and counter-attack in the third period. Menard was tested several times and was up to the task. His best save came from in close, as Jeff Gumaer had what looked to be a wide open net. Menard slid his arm across to make the save and keep the score 4-2.
”We are finding different ways to win,” said Wilson. “Hopefully we can continue our strong play next weekend at home.”
Last night, the Tigers defeated Bentley, 3-2, behind a pair of goals from Crowell. #Jared DeMichiel (Avon, Conn./Chicago Steel)# (Avon, CT) made 28 saves to pick up his seventh win of the year.
These were the only two regular season meetings between the two schools. RIT leads the all-time series between the two teams, 9-3-1. Last season, the Tigers went 3-0-1 against Bentley. Bentley last defeated RIT, 7-6 in the 2006-07 season finale.
RIT maintains its hold on second place in Atlantic Hockey.
Bentley has now lost five straight. Joe Calvi made 24 saves.
The Tigers return to the friendly confines of Ritter Arena on Friday and Saturday for a two-game series against Connecticut. Both games begin at 7:05 p.m.
