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Canisius University Athletics

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Canisius forwrd J.D. Pogue stands in front of the Niagara goal during game action at LECOM Harborcenter on March 10, 2023
Lindy Feider
2
Winner Niagara NIA 19-16-3
1
Canisius CAN 17-18-3
Winner
Niagara NIA
19-16-3
2
Final
1
Canisius CAN
17-18-3
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 F
Niagara NIA 1 1 0 2
Canisius CAN 0 1 0 1

Game Recap: Ice Hockey |

Niagara Edges Canisius in AHA Semifinal Opener, 2-1

Casey Carreau scored the game-winning goal early in the second period and Chad Veltri stopped 28-of-29 shots faced to lift No. 6 seed Niagara to a 2-1 victory over No. 4 seed Canisius in game one of their Atlantic Hockey Association Postseason semifinal round series Friday at LECOM Harborcenter in downtown Buffalo.
 
Ryan Cox opened the scoring with a power-play goal in the first period for the Purple Eagles (19-16-3), who took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series with Friday's victory.
 
Junior Randy Hernandez tallied the lone goal for the Golden Griffins (17-18-3) while senior Jacob Barczewski made 34 saves between the pipes.  
 
Cox staked Niagara to a 1-0 lead just past the midway point of the first period with a power-play goal, sliding the puck past Barczewski and inside the left post for his 14th goal of the campaign.
 
The teams traded goals less than a minute apart early in the second period. Hernandez brought the Griffs level at the 1:46 mark of the middle frame, putting home a rebound after Veltri turned aside the initial attempt from graduate student J.D. Pogue to tie the game at 1-1.

Carreau restored the Purple Eagles lead just 56 seconds later, beating Barczewski on a breakaway with a wrist shot to the blocker side to make it a 2-1 contest.
 
Canisius pushed for the equalizer in the third period as it put 14 shots on target during the final frame, but they were unable to get the equalizer past Veltri, who shut the door on the Griffs to preserve the one-goal victory for the Purple Eagles.
 
Head Coach Trevor Large's Post Game Comments Game Notes
• Friday's game served as the 11th meeting in the AHA Postseason between Canisius and Niagara. The Griffs hold a 7-4 lead against the Purple Eagles in games played during the AHA Postseason following Friday's setback.
• Niagara outshot Canisius by a 36-29 margin for the contest, highlighted by a 27-15 edge during the first two periods.
• The Purple Eagles were 1-for-3 on the power play while Canisius was 0-for-4 with the man advantage.
• The Griffs held their opponent to two goals or fewer for the 20th time this season as it moved to 12-5-3 in 2022-23 when doing so.
• Canisius was held to one goal or less for the 10th time this season as it moved to 0-10-0 in those contests.
• The Griffs played its 11th game of the season to be decided by a single goal as it moved to 6-5 in those games.
• Barczewski recorded 30 or more saves in a game for the 11th time this season as he finished with 34 saves on Friday.
• Pogue recorded his fourth goal of the campaign with his second-period tally and his first since Feb. 4, 2023 at RIT.
 
Up Next
The teams play game two of the best-of-three series Saturday at LECOM Harborcenter. Puck drop is set for 7:35 p.m.
 
Tickets for the game are still available. They can be purchased by calling 716-888-TIXX or by visiting the tickets page on GoGriffs.com. 
 
For complete coverage of the Canisius hockey team, please follow the Griffs on social media at @GriffsHockey on Twitter and Instagram.
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