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Nick Hutchison is shown skating with the puck during game action against Robert Morris at Harborcenter on Oct. 13, 2017
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4
Winner Canisius CAN 9-5-1, 9-5-0 AHC
2
Niagara NIA 9-6-1, 8-3-1 AHC
Winner
Canisius CAN
9-5-1, 9-5-0 AHC
4
Final
2
Niagara NIA
9-6-1, 8-3-1 AHC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 F
Canisius CAN 1 0 3 4
Niagara NIA 1 1 0 2

Game Recap: Ice Hockey |

Hockey Rallies to Double Up No. 20 Niagara, 4-2

Canisius scored three times in the third period to erase a one-goal deficit and defeat No. 20 Niagara, 4-2, in Atlantic Hockey Conference action Friday at Dwyer Arena in Lewiston, N.Y.
 
Junior Dylan McLaughlin and sophomore Nick Hutchison scored 2:31 apart to give the Golden Griffins (9-5-1, 9-4-0 AHC) the lead before senior Ryan Schmelzer added an empty net tally in the final minute of regulation to put the game away as Canisius recorded its ninth straight victory against the Purple Eagles (9-6-1, 8-3-1 AHC). The win also moved the Griffs past Niagara and into first place in the AHC standings.
 
Trailing 2-1 at the start of the third, McLaughlin brought the Griffs level at the 7:49 mark of the final frame with his team-leading ninth goal of the season, jamming home a loose puck after a point shot from junior Cameron Heath was deflected on its way to the net.  
 
Hutchison gave Canisius its first lead of the game just 20 seconds past the midway point of the third, capitalizing on a turnover deep in Niagara's zone to beat Purple Eagles goaltender Brian Wilson for this seventh of the season.
 
Canisius maintained its one-goal cushion until the final minute of regulation. Facing a 6-on-4 situation after Niagara pulled Wilson and Canisius was called for a minor penalty, Schmelzer put the game away when he hit the empty net tally with a shot from deep within the Griffs zone to make it a 4-2 contest.  
 
Earlier in the game, Canisius and Niagara traded power-play goals during a 2:45 span midway through the first period. Derian Plouffe gave the Purple Eagles a 1-0 lead with his 10th of the season at the 8:23 mark, only to see the Griffs tie the game when junior Jimmy Mazza knocked home a rebound during Canisius' first power-play opportunity of the contest.
 
Sean King restored Niagara's lead late in the second period, squeezing a wrist shot between the legs of Canisius sophomore goaltender Daniel Urbani while the Purple Eagles were on the power play to make it a 2-1 game and setup the Griffs' third-period comeback.  
 
Urbani stopped 27 shots in goal for Canisius. Brian Wilson finished with 24 saves between the pipes for Niagara.
 
Head Coach Trevor Large's Postgame Comments
"Obviously, it was a great effort win for us tonight. We talk about how there is adversity in every game and in this one it was very obvious. Going into the third period down 2-1 on the road, we knew we were going to have to be great and play together. Our whole team was able to understand that message, stay calm and keep it simple.
 
"Our effort together won us that game. It was a great road win for us. We have a quick recovery tonight and then we have to get ready to play at the HARBORCENTER tomorrow."
 
Game Notes
  • Canisius improved its all-time record to 22-21-4 against Niagara and its Division I mark to 21-17-4 versus the Purple Eagles.  
  • The Griffs picked up their second victory of the season against a nationally-ranked opponent as the Canisius improved to 2-2 against ranked competition in 2017-18.
  • Canisius improved to 20-0-0 since the start of the 2016-17 season when scoring four or more goals in a contest as the Griffs notched four or more goals in a game for the sixth time this season.
  • Junior Jimmy Mazza posted his third career power-play and first man advantage tally of the season with his first-period goal.
  • Sophomore Nick Hutchison recorded his team-leading fourth game-winning goal of the season with Friday's decisive marker. Hutchison is now tied with Anthony Rinaldi (Union) and Sheldon Rempal (Clarkson) for the national lead in that category.
  • Junior Dylan McLaughlin extended his point-scoring streak to 10 games with his third-period goal on Friday. McLaughlin has recorded 16 points (7g, 9a) during that stretch.  
  • Senior Ryan Schmelzer recorded the 94th and 95th points of his career on Friday, moving him within five points of becoming just the 11th player in the Division I era of the program to reach the 100-point plateau.
  • Senior Jeff Murray recorded a pair of assists to turn his fourth multiple-point game of the season.
Up Next
  • The teams conclude their home-and-home series Saturday with a 4:35 p.m. matinee at KeyBank Rink at HARBORCENTER.
  • Tickets are available and can be purchased by visiting ticketmaster.com or by calling 716-888-TIXX. 
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