BUFFALO – Top-seed Canisius scored once in each period and senior Charles Williams stopped all 24 shots he faced as the Griffs recorded a 3-0 victory over No. 11 seed Niagara in game one of an Atlantic Hockey Tournament quarterfinal round series Friday at KeyBank Rink in HARBORCENTER.
Sophomores Jimmy Mazza and Dylan McLaughlin, and freshman Nick Hutchsion accounted for the three goals scored by Canisius (20-10-7), who extended the nation’s longest active unbeaten streak to 16 games with the victory.
Williams, meanwhile, continued his storybook season between the pipes for the Blue and Gold as the First-Team All-AHC selection posted his league-leading sixth shutout of the season.
Jackson Teichreob made 36 saves in goal for the Purple Eagles (5-30-3).
Mazza opened the scoring at the 14:57 mark of the first period, putting home a loose puck during a goalmouth scramble while the Griffs were on the power play to give Canisius the lead.
The Griffs saw their margin doubled to 2-0 less than four minutes into the second period when a shot from junior David Parrottino deflected off McLaughlin and past Teichreob.
Hutchision closed out the scoring just 1:48 into the third period, forcing a turnover in the Purple Eagles zone before burying a feed from sophomore Felix Chamberland to determine the final margin.
Game two of the quarterfinal series between Canisius and Niagara takes place Saturday at KeyBank Rink in HARBORCENTER. Puck drop is set for 8:05 p.m. The Canisius Ticket Office at the Koessler Center will be open from Noon – 2 p.m. tomorrow for fans who want to purchase their tickets in advance.
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