NIAGARA UNIV. — Sophomore Felix Chamberland scored twice to lead Canisius to a 5-2 victory over rival Niagara in Atlantic Hockey Conference action Friday at Dwyer Arena.
Sophomore Dylan McLaughlin and freshmen Nick Hutchison and Casey Jerry also scored for the Griffs (18-10-7, 17-4-6 AHC), who completed both a series and season sweep of the Purple Eagles to extend the nation’s longest active unbeaten streak to 14 games with the victory. The win also kept Canisius in first place in the Atlantic Hockey standings, three points ahead of second place Air Force.
Stephen Pietrobon accounted for both tallies for Niagara (3-26-3, 3-21-2 AHC).
McLaughlin staked Canisius to a 1-0 lead a little more than six minutes into the contest, putting home a rebound on a shot from junior David Parrottino.
Hutchison doubled the Griffs margin to 2-0 less than four minutes later, taking advantage of a line change to get behind the Niagara defense and beat Purple Eagles keeper Guillaume Therien with a wrist shot blocker side for his 11th of the campaign.
Pietrobon cut the Canisius advantage in half, 2-1, at the 15:30 mark of the first, firing a loose puck into the cage during a scramble while the Purple Eagles had the man advantage.
The Griffs scored three times in the opening 6:37 of the second period to build a 5-1 cushion and take control of the game. Chamberland opened the sequence with a power play goal 1:43 into the frame before adding his second of the period with 4:48 elapsed to stretch the Griffs’ cushion to 4-1. Jerry scored on the break during a 4-on-4 situation at the 6:37 mark to cap the outburst and make it 5-1.
Pietrobon closed out the scoring with less than three minutes remaining in the third, jamming home a loose puck for his second goal of the evening.
Senior Charles Williams stopped 28 shots in goal for Canisius before being replaced by sophomore Simon Hofley late in the third period.
Therien got the start between the pipes for Niagara and made 12 saves before being replaced by Jackson Teichreob in the middle of the second period.
Canisius closes out the regular season Feb. 23 with a 7:05 p.m. contest against Mercyhurst at KeyBank Rink in HARBORCENTER. The contest serves as the program’s senior night, with the team honoring its seniors prior to faceoff. It is also Cory Conacher bobblehead night, with the first 500 fans in attendance receiving a bobblehead of the former Canisius standout. For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com or call 716-888-TIXX.
from GoGriffs.com via IFTTT