The Griffs controlled the game throughout, registering a season-high 51 shots and allowing just 19 shots on goal ­- one shy of the team's season low.

Senior captain Preston Shupe led the Griffs offense on the night, matching career highs with three points and two goals. Sophomore Matthew Grazen also matched his personal best with two points on a goal and an assist, while juniors Ryan Bohrer and Patrick Sullivan rounded out the scoring for the Griffs.

Junior Tony Capobianco recorded 18 saves in net for the Griffs and allowed one or fewer goal for the seventh time this season.

"We played really well as units of five today," said Canisius head coach Dave Smith. "It was nice to see some real good team players like Preston Shupe and Matthew Grazen be rewarded for their hard work with goals tonight. Now, we need to reload and do it again tomorrow because Army will come at us strong."

Canisius grabbed the early lead in the contest and never looked back thanks to a five-minute major penalty on Army. Freshman Ralph Cuddemi found Bohrer open on the back door and the junior knocked the puck in for the 1-0 advantage. Junior Duncan McKellar also registered an assist on the power-play goal 9:46 into the contest.

Grazen then stretched the Griffs' lead to two at the 12:45 mark of the first with his third goal of the season. Off a face-off victory, Grazen gained possession of the puck down low and stuffed it into the back of the net. Shupe and senior Torrey Lindsay registered assists on the tally.

Shupe then added his first goal of the night 1:08 into the second frame. Grazen sent a back-handed shot toward the net and Shupe deflected it in for the 3-0 lead. Sophomore Stephen Farrell also posted an assist on the score.

Army answered back with its only goal of the night when the puck deflected off Zak Zaremba and into the net at the 7:03 mark of the second. However, Canisius finished the scoring in the period when Sullivan knocked a rebound in with 3:14 remaining in the second. Junior Kyle Gibbons and sophomore Doug Beck each registered assists on Sullivan's third goal of the season.

The Griffs finished the scoring with 3:44 remaining in the contest when Shupe netted his second of the night and sixth of the season. Lindsay floated a pass past the Army defense and Shupe buried his 1-on-1 attempt for the 5-1 victory. Sophomore Braeden Rigney added an assist to seal the four-goal victory.

Canisius finished the night 1-for-9 on the power play, while killing all three Black Knight opportunities. Ryan Leets recorded 46 saves for Army in the defeat.

The teams wrap up the two-game series tomorrow night. Game time at the Buffalo State Sports Arena is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Game Notes: The Griffs' 51 shots are the most since registering 68 in a double-overtime victory at Mercyhurst on March 13, 2010 ... The team's +32 shot differential is the highest for Canisius since outshooting AIC, 56-19 (+37), on Feb. 28, 2004 ... Canisius has won three-straight games over Army since taking four-consecutive contests from Nov. 6, 2004 to Nov. 4, 2005 ... The four-goal margin of victory matches the Griffs' highest against the Black Knights ... Shupe took over the team lead in points with 11 (6g, 5a) ... Cuddemi's assist was the first point of his career.