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Canisius University Athletics

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Canisius' Jacob Barczewski follows the puck as RPI's Billy Jerry reaches for it during their matchup at Harborcenter on Nov. 23, 2019
Dean Bogart
3
Winner Rensselaer RPI 5-6-1, 2-4-1 ECAC
2
Canisius CAN 2-8-0, 1-3-0 AHA
Winner
Rensselaer RPI
5-6-1, 2-4-1 ECAC
3
Final
2
Canisius CAN
2-8-0, 1-3-0 AHA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 F
Rensselaer RPI 0 0 3 3
Canisius CAN 0 1 1 2

Game Recap: Ice Hockey |

Late Goal Propels RPI Past Hockey

Mike Gornall scored with 2:47 remaining in regulation to break a 2-2 tie and lift RPI to a 3-2 victory over Canisius in collegiate men's ice hockey action Saturday at KeyBank Rink at LECOM Harborcenter.
 
Gornall's game-winning goal was one of three scored by the Engineers (5-6-1) in the third period as they rallied from a 1-0 deficit at the start of the final frame to earn a sweep of the home-and-home series with their in-state rivals.
 
Senior Nick Hutchison and freshman Simon Gravel found the back of the net for the Golden Griffins (2-8-0).
 
Gornall scored the decisive marker with less than three minutes remaining in regulation, jamming home a loose puck after his initial try and Simon Kjellberg's rebound attempt were turned aside by Canisius freshman goaltender Jacob Barczewski.  
 
The game-winning goal came less than two minutes after Gravel had tied the game at 2-2, putting home a rebound from the bottom of the right faceoff circle after sophomore Mitchell Martan's shot was re-directed to him by RPI netminder Linden Marshall.
 
Earlier in the contest, Hutchison gave Canisius a 1-0 lead at the 14:18 mark of the second period when he put a shot over the right shoulder of Marshall from the bottom of the right face-off circle.  
 
RPI tied the game at 1-1 just 40 seconds into the third with a power-play goal from Will Reilly, who buried a rebound from the left side after a shot from Patrick Polino found the left post.
 
Todd Burgess put RPI in front at the 14:46 mark of the third, beating Barczewski with a wrist shot just over the left pad on a zone entry to make it a 2-1 contest.
 
Gravel answered for back Canisius just 71 seconds after Burgess' tally with his third of the campaign, setting the stage for Gornall's heroics.  
 
Marshall made 23 saves in goal for RPI while Barczewski recorded 28 stops between the pipes for Canisius.
 
Head Coach Trevor Large's Postgame Comments
"It was a hard-fought game. I was pleased with our attitude and effort all night. It was a tough way to lose a game. We were playing strong, playing well, playing together, all those things were going well for us. We didn't get the outcome that we wanted. There are some positives for us to move forward with, but it's a tough pill for us to swallow right now because we played a strong, sharp game and didn't get what we deserved, but that's hockey.
 
"It was tough sledding out there. When you look at the goals, it was plays around the net. Goal scorers got hungry (in the third) and went out there and manufactured some dirty goals and obviously, RPI getting a couple of power-play goals is something we need the penalty kill to come up with there, but it was a real tough hockey game. It required everything on both sides. The game-winning goal was a broken play with the puck going towards the goal with second, third and fourth chance opportunities and that ended up giving them a 3-2 victory. We lick our wounds and get back into conference play next weekend.
 
"We've been working on how to sustain more pressure in the offensive zone. As a staff, we looked at our game, we thought that we had possession time in previous games, but we were unable to get inside the opponent. So, we focused this week on getting the puck from the perimeter to inside our opponent, and more guys in front of the net and we were able to get some goals that way and sustain some pressure tonight. But, we need more. We need the power play to get us some goals; we need the penalty kill to shut down their power play. I like our chances if were if clicking on all cylinders, but we have yet to see that this season. But, I believe in this team. It feels like we're getting close. Once we put it all together, I like our chances against anybody."
 
Game Notes
• Saturday's game was just the second meeting between Canisius and RPI, both of which have occurred this season.  
• RPI out-shot Canisius by a 31-25 margin for the contest, highlighted by a two-shot edge in all three periods.
• RPI was 2-for-3 on the power play while Canisius was 0-for-3 with the man advantage.
• Canisius lost for just the second time since the start of the 2016-17 season when holding a lead after two periods with Saturday's setback. The Griffs are now 39-2-1 when in front after 40 minutes in that timeframe.   
• Hutchison extended his goal-scoring streak to three games with his second-period tally. He also expanded his team-leading goal total to four with the even-strength marker.
• Gravel stretched his point-scoring streak to five games with his third-period goal. All five of his points this season (3g, 2a) have come during the current five-game stretch.
• Freshman Hudson Lambert picked up his second assist in as many games with his helper on Hutchison's goal in the second period.
 
Up Next
• Canisius closes out the month of November with a Thanksgiving Weekend series against Atlantic Hockey foe Army.
• The Griffs and Black Knights open their two-game set Nov. 29 before concluding the first of their two regular-season series the following day. Puck drop for both contests is set for 1:05 p.m.
• Tickets for both games are still available. They can be purchased by calling 716-888-TIXX or by visiting Ticketmaster.com.
 
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