The Canisius College hockey team couldn't hold a two-goal lead and settled for a 2-2 draw with Army West Point on Saturday night. The Griffs are now 3-9-1 on the season and 3-4-1 against Atlantic Hockey foes, while the Black Knights move to 2-6-4 and 1-5-4 in league play.

“While we continue to learn a lot and improve every day, we haven't quite learned how to put a game away,” said Canisius head coach Dave Smith. “Tonight, that opportunity came on special teams and Army took advantage with a power-play goal, while we couldn't convert a five-minute power-play. That's the difference in the game.”

Junior Shane Conacher and sophomore Jeff Murray both netted early goals for the Griffs.

Sophomore Simon Hofley recorded 24 saves for the Griffs between the pipes.

Canisius grabbed the early lead in the contest thanks to Murray's first goal of the season. Freshman defender Cameron Heath sent the puck behind the net and after being stuffed on a first wrap-around attempt, Murray knocked in his own rebound for the 1-0 Canisius advantage. Junior Josh Kielich also registered an assist on the tally with 3:36 remaining in the first.

The Griffs doubled their lead to two when Conacher netted his sixth of the season 5:29 into the second frame. On a rush, junior Ralph Cuddemi found sophomore Ryan Schmelzer open but Schmelzer pushed his shot just wide off the side netting. Conacher, however, was there to knock the rebound into the goal for the 2-0 advantage.

Army pulled one back with 6:35 remaining in the second when Taylor Maruya deflected a shot into the netting for the 2-1 score. Canisius, however, had a great chance to reclaim its two-goal lead when the Black Knights were whistled for a major penalty just 27 seconds later. Not only were the Griffs not able to convert though, but the team only managed two shots on net during the five minutes as the schools headed into the second intermission with Canisius ahead, 2-1.

The Black Knights were then able to take advantage of a power play of their own when Conor Andrle deflected a shot from the point into the goal with 11:29 remaining in regulation, squaring the game at two and sending the contest into overtime.

In the extra session, Canisius was whistled for a penalty, giving Army an extra-man chance. However, the Black Knights followed with a penalty of their own just 18 seconds later to end the threat. Army did outshoot the Griffs, 5-1, in the overtime but Hofley was up for the challenge to earn the point for Canisius.

The Black Knights finished the game with a 26-22 advantage in shots. Army was also 1-for-5 on the power play, while killing all three of the Griffs extra-man chances.

Canisius returns to action next weekend with a pair of road games at Air Force. The schools begin the two-game series on Friday at 9:05 p.m. ET.

Game Notes: Canisius held a lead after the first period for the first time this season … Of 11 Atlantic Hockey teams, the Griffs rank 11th in power-play percentage (9.3) and ninth in penalty kill (72.3) … Canisius has not won a game when failing to score on the power play this season, going 3-1-0 when finding the netting with the extra man and 0-8-1 when failing to do so … The Griffs played in their first overtime of the season.