Niagara University, New York—Niagara Hockey defeated Army with a 4-1 victory Saturday night at Dwyer Arena, earning Atlantic Hockey's first postseason win.
Early period
The Purple Eagles took the lead just past the midway point of the opener. jack richard He jumped over the boards and caused a turnover at the red line. After controlling the puck, he went into a wild breakaway. Richard was stick-checked from behind, but was able to pick up the puck enough to slip it through the goalie and score his eighth goal of the season. It was 14:00th It was the first time Niagara scored this season.
While the Purple Eagles were looking for a five-minute major, Army tied the game at one point on a power play.
After 20 minutes of play, Niagara tied with Army despite having only three shots.
Second period
Niagara dominated the second period, outscoring the Black Knights 16-9 in the frame.
At 15:59 of the period, the Purple Eagles led 2-1.trio of Glebus Prokhorenkovs, Olivier Gauthier, after Gauthier played the puck to the side of the net, Lule Mailimoku put pressure near the Army net. Prokhorenkovs pulled the puck to the back of the net and it popped out. Noah Carlin A person who sneaks back from a defensive position. Carlin took a snap shot that went over the goalie's shoulder for the third time this season.Gauthier had his ninth assist and Prokhorenkovs had his 10th.th Assist this season.
Niagara led 2-1 after two periods despite trailing 27-19 through two periods.
third period
The Purple Eagles jumped on the Black Knights early in the third period, taking a 3-1 lead just 2:05 into the third period. The Army goaltender plays the puck around the boards, Carter Landkleff He deflected the puck along the boards. tyler wallace He picked up the puck and skated to the point where he fired a wrist shot into the net. The puck was deflected by an Army player and found the back of the net with Wallace's team leading by 11 points.th seasonal.Landklev was picked up by the team in his 16th year of high school.th Assist the play.
After fending off the Black Knights in the third period, the Purple Eagles closed out the game with an empty-netter with less than two minutes left in regulation time. Carlin clears puck from Niagara zone. Shane Ott Won the race to the puck. Ott waited for help with the puck under the Army goal line.he found Connor Mailimoku He was in front of the net and hit the puck into the net for the sixth time this season. Carlin had his seventh assist while Ott had his 14th.th seasonal.
niagara notebook
· niagara netminder Jarrett Fisk Recorded 42 saves and made 14 saves.th Victory of the season. This was his second game of 40 or more saves this season and the third of his career. It was the second time he made 40 or more saves in an Atlantic Hockey playoff game.
· The Purple Eagles blocked 16 shots in the game. Jonathan ZiskeyKarlin, L. Mailimoku, and joseph maisak Everyone blocks two to give Niagara the lead.
· It was Carlin's first multi-point game since Dec. 1, 2023, against Holy Cross, when he had two assists.
· Niagara went 36-33 in the faceoff circle, while the Prokhorenkovs won 17 faceoffs for a winning percentage of 60.7.
· Niagara improved its record against Army to 20 wins, 12 wins, and 3 losses. This was the first time the two teams met in the postseason.
· Niagara is 13-0-2 when scoring four or more goals this season.
· This season, the Purple Eagles lead 13-2-1 after two periods.
· Niagara won the 21st place match.cent At this time of the season.
· This is the sixth time this season that Niagara has won after a tie after the first period.
· Niagara is 8-5-3 at home this season.
· Since returning from vacation, Niagara is 9-3-2 against Atlantic hockey teams.
· Eight different players earned points in Saturday night's game against Army.
next
The Purple Eagles will travel to Fairfield, Conn., to play Sacred Heart in a three-game series. Sacred Heart finished as the No. 3 seed and earned a first-round bye. Niagara and Sacred Heart have played against each other twice this season. Niagara earned its first AHA win on October 27 in overtime against the Pioneers. Sacred Heart took the second game of the weekend. The series is scheduled to begin Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m. The second game is scheduled for March 9th at 7 p.m., and the third game, if necessary, will be played on March 10th at 5 p.m.
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