BUFFALO, N.Y. – The RIT men's hockey team fell, 5-2, at Canisius in Atlantic Hockey America play, Friday.
Sophomore forwards
Tyler Fukakusa and
Matthew Wilde each finished with a goal and an assist while sophomore forward
Christian Catalano was credited with two assists. First-year goaltender
Jakub Krbecek finished with 35 saves.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Canisius scored 24 seconds into the game after Dominic Payne cleaned up a rebound in the slot after Krbecek had fought off three other shots.
- The Tigers responded with back-to-back goals for a 2-1 lead at 6:57. Wilde found a loose puck low in the right faceoff circle and scored, far post, at 3:33 and later cleared a puck down the left wing boards to create a two-on-one break finished by Fukakusa outside the right post on a pass through the crease from Catalano.
- Canisius scored twice early in the second to retake a 3-2 lead. Mateo Giampa crossed a long pass through the slot to Oliver Tarr, who finished a shot from inside the right faceoff circle over Krbecek's glove 52 seconds into the period. Alton McDermott later scored on a short rebound at the end of an odd-man rush at 3:31.
- The Golden Griffins scored at 11:40 of the third after Giampa dropped a pass back into the slot to Payne, who scored inside the left post past a stick-less Krbecek. Kyle Haskins was later credited with an empty-net goal with 22 seconds on the clock to close the scoring.
GAME NOTES
- Fukakusa logged his fifth multi-point game of the season. He leads the Tigers with 23 points and 17 assists and has scored 14 points over RIT's last 10 games.
- Wilde scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season and is tied for second on the team with 16 points.
- Catalano added his fourth multi-point game of the season and is tied with Wilde with 16 points (4G/12A).
- Krbecek was credited with his 12th game in 13 starts this season with at least 30 saves.
- Canisius finished with a 40-32 shot advantage.
- RIT killed all four Golden Griffin power plays while going scoreless on its only extra man attempt.
WHAT'S NEXT
RIT takes on the host Golden Griffins in a rematch on Saturday (Jan. 11) at 7:05 p.m.