BUFFALO, NY—Jason Zaleski (Scranton, PA/Scranton)scored three times and Ryan Salkeld (Virginia Beach, VA/Churchland) tallied four points to lead Buffalo State (3-6-2) to a 5-3 victory over visiting Johnson & Wales (5-5-1) in a non-conference game today at the Ice Arena.
Salkeld opened the scoring with just over three minutes remaining in the opening period when he forced a turnover just inside the Wildcats’ blue line and buried the breakaway attempt. The Wildcats evened the score just 43 seconds later on a goal by Fran Macklin, but Zaleski’s first of the game reclaimed the lead for Buffalo State with just 20 seconds remaining in the opening frame.
Salkeld gave the Bengals a 3-1 lead with his second of the game and fifth of the season on the power-play early in the second period, but the Wildcats answered again with a power-play tally of their own by Aaron Arm from the point. Zaleski’s second of the game just under a minute later to push the lead to two again, but JWU closed the deficit to 4-3 late in the middle stanza off the stick of Josh Obregon.
Buffalo State allowed just five shots in the third period, all in the closing minutes, and Zaleski scored his third of the game and fifth of the season on the empty net to seal the victory.
Salkeld added a pair of assists to go with his two goals, whileZach Nieminen (Ajax, ON/Notre Dame CSS) also drew a pair of helpers.
Ian Sylves (Sloan, NY/JFK) finished with 20 saves in the victory as the Bengals outshot the Wildcats, 25-23. The Bengals finished 1 for 6 on the power play, and JWU was 1 for 3.
Buffalo state will break for the holidays before facing Neumann in the first round of the Norwich Tournament in the New Year on Jan. 2.
