"I thought that early we were able to capitalize on a couple of bounces that set the tone for the game," said Canisius head coach Dave Smith.

Junior Cory Conacher led the Griffs with a career-high four points on the evening, scoring two goals and adding two assists. Freshmen Ben Parker and Preston Shupe both scored their first collegiate goals, while senior Jason Weeks, junior Pat Kenney and sophomore Dave Kostuch rounded out the scoring for Canisius.

Senior Josh Heidinger registered an assist on the evening, becoming the fourth Griff in school history to record his 100th career point. His assist also gives him 71 for his career, tied for the most in the program's Division I history. David Deeves also tallied 71 helpers from 1998 to 2002.

Sophomore Dan Morrison recorded 36 saves in net to earn his second-straight shutout and third of the season.

Kenney got the Griffs on the scoreboard just 3:21 into the contest. After miscommunication between a pair of AIC defenders, Kenney gained possession of the puck and fired the shot in for his second goal of the season. Sophomore Scott Moser and senior Peter MacDougall each tallied an assist on the game-opening score.

Shupe stretched the Griffs lead to two with 1:55 left in the first period. Conacher left the puck for the freshman in the slot and Shupe buried it past the AIC goaltender for his first collegiate score. Overall, Canisius fired 22 shots on goal during the first period.

Conacher netted the lone goal of the second period, his team-leading seventh score of the season. Senior Dave Cianfrini chipped the puck out of the Griffs' zone and to Shupe. The freshman then skated into the AIC zone with Conacher on a two-on-one rush. Shupe fed Conacher, who knocked the puck in with 6:36 remaining in the period.

Parker led a four-goal third period, netting his first collegiate goal 1:41 into the stanza on the power play. Weeks passed the puck to Conacher and as the sophomore skated toward the goal, he drew the AIC goaltender out. Conacher then passed to Parker, who had the open net for the score.

Weeks added his second goal of the season at the 11:05 mark, scoring just after a Yellow Jacket penalty expired. Freshman Torrey Lindsay chipped the puck to Weeks, who skated in on a breakaway for the goal.

Conacher added his second goal of the night just 61 seconds later. Senior Carl Hudson crossed the puck to the junior and Conacher knocked it in for his eight goal of the season. Junior Vincent Scarsella also registered an assist on the goal.

With 2:37 remaining in the contest, Kostuch rounded out the scoring for Canisius with his sixth goal of the season. The sophomore tipped in a shot from junior Scott Jenks on the power play. Heidinger added his record-tying assist on the goal.

"We were able to come out really fast tonight," Conacher said. "We stuck to the game plan and just kept firing shots on net. When you play for a full 60 minutes, good things will happen."

Canisius outshot the Yellow Jackets, 49-36, on the evening. The Griffs were 2-for-5 with the extra-man advantage, while AIC went scoreless in four power-play chances. Ben Meisner recorded 42 saves for AIC in the defeat.

The teams wrap up the two-game series tomorrow afternoon at the Olympia Ice Center. Game time is set for 4:05 p.m.

Game Notes: AIC's Meisner entered the game ranked first nationally with a goals against average of 1.26 and a save percentage of .962 ... Meisner had recorded shutouts in each of his first two home games this season ... The seven goals scored are the most for the Griffs in a shutout since moving to Division I ... Conacher registered his fifth multi-point game in just his 11th contest of the season ... The last Griff to record consecutive shutouts was Andrew Loewen on Jan. 12 and 18, 2007 ... Canisius won its fifth-straight game against AIC.