SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Rookie Hugo Turcotte tallied the game-winning tally in the 3-2 victory over American International College on Friday evening to keep the No. 17 Niagara Purple Eagles unbeaten in Atlantic Hockey play.
With 8:45 left to play in the game and scored knotted at two apiece, Turcotte sped down the right wing full speed and cut inside before firing the puck glove side past AIC netminder Ben Meisner for his third goal of the season.
Niagara also got scores from Kevin Ryan and Chris Lochner, while NU goalie Carsen Chubak pushed aside 24 AIC looks on net.
“We did a lot of good things which you need to do fundamentally on the road,” head coach David Burkholder said. “We won the faceoff game, including getting a faceoff goal which ended up being huge. I think the shot chart was in our favor as well. It all adds up to a very good road win. We got into a little penalty trouble at the end of the game, but guys were out there blocking shots. We’re going to take the two points, but we need to play a lot better tomorrow.”
With 3:11 gone by in contest, the Yellow Jackets (4-11-3; 1-8-3 AHA) caught the Purple Eagles (12-3-4; 11-0-1 AHA) on their heels and shot out to an early lead off the stick of Richard Leitner. Blake Pleake let a low shot go from the left circle that was tipped over the shoulder of Chubak by Leitner for his sixth goal of the year.
Niagara increased the pressure as the period went on and finally tied the game at the 8:30 mark. A faceoff won by Jeff Hannan fell back to Dan Kolenda who pushed the puck to Ryan. The defenseman ripped a high shot from just inside the blue line that went untouched through traffic to beat Meisner for his first goal of the season.
The Purps continued to pepper Meisner with looks on net the remainder of the period, outshooting the Yellow Jackets 14-6. Turcotte had a chance to break the tie with 2:28 remaining in the stanza on a breakaway opportunity. The rookie tried to beat Meisner stick side, but a sliding pad save by the goalie kept the game even heading into the second period.
The next pair of tallies came within a one minute span early in the second. Lochner gave Niagara its first lead of the game two minutes gone off a sharp-angled shot that beat Meisner just inside the pipe. The lead was short lived as the Yellow Jackets responded off a score from Pleskach at the 17:20 mark to even the game.
The Yellow Jackets finished the game on the powerplay, including a 1:05 of 3-on-5 action, but Chubak and the Purple Eagle penalty-killing unit prevented the AIC comeback.
