Waltham, Mass. ? The Canisius hockey team rallied from down two goals in the third period but Bentley responded by scoring a goal with just over two minutes remaining to win the game. The loss ended the Griffs' four-game winning streak in Atlantic Hockey play as Canisius dropped to 5-4-2 overall and 4-2-1 in league play.
“Our issue tonight was a six-minute stretch in the second where we got soft and allowed a few goals,” said Canisius head coach Dave Smith. “It cost us tonight. Every game in our league is so tough and you can't lose focus.”
Sophomore Vincent Scarsella led the Canisius attack with two points on a goal and assist, while sophomore Brandon Cummings and junior Carl Hudson each added a score.
Freshman Dan Morrison recorded 27 saves in goal for the Griffs.
Scarsella gave the Griffs the early advantage, tallying a short-handed goal with 1:14 left in the first period. After the Griffs cleared the puck out of its defensive zone, the Falcons attempted to center the puck. Scarsella pressured and the puck went off the Bentley goalie and into the back of the net.
The Falcons (4-4-1, 3-2-1 Atlantic Hockey) scored three goals in a 6:50 span during the second frame to take a 3-1 advantage. Following a Canisius turnover in its own zone, Brendan Harrison fired the puck in for his first goal of the season with 7:12 remaining in the period. Herbie Kent gave Bentley the lead with 4:48 left in the stanza. After Morrison went out to play the puck, Kent wrapped the puck around the net and in for his first score of the season. Dain Prewitt then rounded out the scoring with 22 seconds left, beating Morrison one-on-one.
Cummings brought the Griffs within one 2:09 into the third period. Scarsella fed the sophomore and Cummings hammered it in for his second goal of the season. Sophomore Cory Conacher also registered an assist on the goal.
Hudson knotted the game at three, scoring with 5:59 left in regulation. A loose puck went to the junior defender and Hudson fired the shot past the Bentley goalie to tie the game. Sophomore Eric Rex and freshman Adam Brace both posted assists on the goal.
The Falcons reclaimed the lead with just 2:11 left in regulation. Morrison made the initial save but could not cover the puck. Bentley jammed away at the puck and Dustin Cloutier finally knocked it in for the game-winning goal.
The teams wrap up the two-game set tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m.
Game Notes: Scarsella's goal was the Griffs' fourth short-handed tally of the season, tied for the most in the NCAA ... The assist for Brace was the first point of his career ... Canisius killed all four Bentley power plays, extending its streak to 36-straight penalties killed. The Griffs' Division I record is 37-straight power plays killed, set last season.
