ROCHESTER, NY – Adam Brubacher (Elmira, Ontario/Powell River Kings) scored a power-play goal with 1.4 seconds left in regulation to break a 1-1 tie and lift the RIT men's hockey team (8-8-2, 6-6-2 AHA) to a dramatic 2-1 win over Niagara University (8-11-2, 7-6-3 AHA) in front of 2,450 fans at the Gene Polisseni Center Saturday night.

With the game tied at 1-1 late in regulation, RIT's penalty-killing unit was forced to come up big, as Niagara was given a power-play with 2:24 remaining. As the RIT penalty was winding down with 30 seconds left, a Tiger player was tripped behind his own net, resulting in a Niagara penalty. After RIT returned to full strength and time was winding down in regulation, Abbott Girduckis (Belleville, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) hounded a Niagara player for a loose puck behind the net, just getting a piece onf the clearing attempt that came to Brubacher along the right wing boards. Brubacher sent a centering pass towards the net that went off a Niagara defenseman and popped over goaltender Brian Wilson for the goal.

Girduckis also scored RIT's first goal in the second period and has eight points over the last three games, all against the Purple Eagles. Goaltender Logan Drackett (Calgary, Alberta/Calgary Canucks) was excellent all evening, stopping 28 of 29 shots to be named the game's first star.

Niko Kovachis scored Niagara's lone goal, a power-play marker with 11:36 remaining in regulation after Drackett made the original save on Zac Herrmann. Niagara goaltender Brian Wilson was strong in net as well, stopping 34 of 36 shots.

RIT out-shot Niagara, 36-29. Niagara was 1-for-6 on the power-play, while RIT went 1-for-4.

"I thought we were fortunate to get out of the first period scoreless tonight, but picked up our game in the second period," said RIT head coach Wayne Wilson. "We've talked about finishing out games better and did that tonight. This win gives us confidence as we head into the grind of our schedule and go out on the road the next few weekends."

Neither team scored in the opening period, as Niagara held a 13-7 edge in shots on goal. The Tigers penalty-killing was stout, killing off four Niagara power-plays.

Drackett came up big with a handful of key saves, while Niagara was on the power-play. He made his best save on Ludwig Stenlud late in the frame.

Shawn Cameron (Sherbrooke, Quebec/Cumberland Grads) had RIT's best chance of the period, shorthanded with 25 seconds left. He took a feed from Will Calverley (Scarborough, Ontario/Chilliwack Chiefs) in the neutral zone, sped around a Niagara defenseman and went to the backhand, but Wilson was there to slide across and make a great pad save to keep the game scoreless.
The Tigers ramped up play significantly in the second period, out-shooting Niagara, 16-7, while scoring the lone goal to lead 1-0 after 40 minutes.

RIT would break the scoreless tie 6:26 into the second period, as Girduckis took a feed from Alden Dupuis (Edmonton, Alberta/Bonnyville Pontiacs) in the slot and fired a shot past Wilson for his team-best eighth goal of the season. Erik Brown (Keene, Ontario/Kemptville 73's) also assisted on the goal for his 98th career point.

Drackett came up with two key saves late in the second period, first denying Justin Kendall with a nifty glove save in front with 5:17 left. On the next shift, Drackett denied Stenlund on a 2-on-1 as the Niagara forward made a nice toe-drag move to gain space and fire a shot from point-blank range that was gobbled up.

Wilson made his best save of the night in the closing seconds of the second period, sliding across to rob Jake Hamacher (Corona, CA/Dubuque Fighting Saints), who took a perfect feed from Cameron on a 2-on-1 rush.

Tonight marked the third of four regular season meetings between the two schools this season and wrapped up a rare stretch of three consecutive games against the same opponent. RIT defeated Niagara, 8-4 at the Polisseni Center on Dec. 15 and skated to a 4-4 tie last night at Dwyer Arena.

Niagara leads the all-time series between the two schools, 18-12-14. The Tigers are 9-4-4 against the Purple Eagles since the start of the 2014-15 season. RIT and Niagara also play on Feb. 27 at Dwyer Arena.

RIT goes on the road for four consecutive games, starting with a pair against Atlantic Hockey foe American International. Friday's contest from the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, Mass. Begins at 2 p.m., while Saturday's game starts at 1 p.m.