Men's Hockey | 12/17/2010 10:27:55 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men's hockey team (9-7-2, 8-3-1 AHA) scored four unanswered third period goals to erase a 1-0 deficit and win its third straight contest, 4-1 over Canisius (6-7-4, 5-6-4 AHA) before a sellout crowd at Ritter Arena on Friday evening. The Tigers move into first place in the Atlantic Hockey Association standings.

Andrew Favot (King City, Ontario/) scored two goals and added an assist and was named the game's first star. Tyler Brenner (Linwood, Ontario/) tallied his team-leading 12th goal of the season, and added two assists. He was named the game's second star. Ben Lynch (Blaine, MN/Lincoln Stars) was named the third star, with two assists. Mike Janda (Glen Ellyn, IL/) scored the game-winning tally for the Tigers. Greg Noyes (Lucan, Ontario/Salmon Arm Silverbacks) recorded his first multi-point game of his collegiate career, with two assists.

RIT fired a season-high 50 shots, out-shooting the Golden Griffins, 50-19. RIT was 1-for-7 with the man-advantage, while Canisius was 0-for-4.  RIT killed off a five-minute Canisius power-play in the second period.

Cory Conacher scored the Golden Griffins lone goal. Dan Morrison was excellent in net for Canisius, stopping 46 shots, including a penalty shot on RIT's Cameron Burt (Detroit, MI/) in the second period.

Burt was held without a point, as his point-streak was snapped at eight games.

RIT goaltender Shane Madolora (Salinas, CA/) continued his stellar play, stopping 19 shots to improve to 7-0-1 this season. He is 7-0-0 in AHA play with a 1.56 goals against average, and .944 save percentage.

The Tigers are currently riding a 12-game unbeaten streak at home (11-0-1) dating back to last season. They are 5-0-1 at Ritter Arena this season, outscoring foes, 27-12.

RIT has out-scored its opponents, 8-0 in the third period during the three-game winning streak. The Tigers hold a one-point lead in the conference standings over Robert Morris.

RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson was very happy with his team's performance for all 60 minutes this evening.

“I thought we played really well in all three periods,” said Wilson. “We generated offense all night, just couldn't capitalize early, and finally were rewarded in the third. I was extremely happy with our power-play and penalty-killing, and most of all, we competed hard. It was a complete team effort tonight.”

Neither team scored in a fast-paced first period of play. RIT controlled a good chunk of the action, but Morrison kept the Tigers off the board, making several good saves, but more importantly, did not allow many rebounds.

RIT had a trio of great attempts on its first power-play of the game, a little over three minutes in, with Morrison's best save coming on a tip-attempt from Brenner in tight. Lynch came in on a breakaway at the tail end of the first power-play, was hooked from behind, but was stopped by Morrison. The puck dribbled off Morrison's pad and just wide past the goal line.

The Tigers continued to pound the net in the second period, but Morrison was up to the task. He made a great save on Adam Mitchell (Crofton, MD/Baystate Breakers) on a power-play midway through the period. Seconds later, RIT was awarded a penalty shot when Morrison was called for delay of game after intentionally knocking his own mask off during a scrum in front. Burt was awarded the penalty shot, came in on Morrison, tried to sneak a low shot between the goaltender's pads, but was denied.

Canisius stunned the Ritter Arena crowd when Conacher, the 2010 AHA Player of the Year, raced in alone on a breakaway and roofed a shot over Madolora's glove with 7.8 seconds left in the period, giving the Golden Griffins a 1-0 lead. Wes Love also assisted on the goal, Conacher's ninth of the season.

The Golden Griffins came out in the third period and nearly made it a two-goal game a minute in, but a backhander by Vincent Scarsella from the slot rang off the post.

Favot scored the first of RIT's four third period goals at the 2:14 mark, tipping home a shot from Brenner in the slot. Daniel Spivak (Thornhill, Ontario/) made a nice play to keep the puck in at the line to Brenner. Brenner walked out from the left half wall and fired a shot towards the net that Favot tipped between Morrison's legs for his fifth goal of the season that came on RIT's 33rd shot of the game.

RIT took the lead for good with 8:23 left in regulation, when Janda tipped in a perfect pass from Greg Noyes (Lucan, Ontario/Salmon Arm Silverbacks) on the power-play for his sixth goal of the season. Lynch eluded a pair of defenders at the blue-lien and fed Noyes on the left side who walked in and found Janda wide open right in front. The senior forward made no mistake in scoring his sixth career goal in seven games against the Golden Griffins.

Favot added an insurance marker with 3:40 left, finishing a nifty three-way rush with Lynch and Brenner for his second of the game and sixth of the season. Favot took a feed from Lynch, came in all alone in tight, and made a nifty deke to beat Morrison.

Brenner put the game away with 47 seconds left, getting a rebound off his own shot that hit the back boards and slid the puck past Morrison for his team-best 12th goal of the season. Favot and Noyes assisted on the goal.

RIT is now 51-14-1 all-time against the Golden Griffins. RIT has now won five straight at home against Canisius and are 12-4-0 against the Golden Griffins since moving to Division I in 2005.

RIT and Canisius were ECAC West rivals from 1981-98, when both teams played at the Division II and III level. Canisius made the jump to Division I in 1998.

RIT returns to action on Thu., Dec. 30, when they travel to Pittsburgh, Pa., to play Robert Morris at the brand new Consol Energy Center, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins at 3 p.m. The game is part of the National Hockey League's Bridgestone Winter Classic.