NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Purple Eagles turned in a strong first period, but a three-goal third Thursday night at Dwyer Arena gave the Canisius Golden Griffins a 4-1 win.
The Purple Eagles (3-18-2; 3-12-2 AHA) controlled most of the first period, leading the shots on goal battle 15-11 after the first 20 minutes, and took the Golden Griffins (11-8-6; 10-4-5 AHA) into the break tied at 1-1. Canisius got on the board first, but Hugo Turcotte tied the game less than a minute later with his sixth tally of the season at the 9:23 mark. Dan Kolenda got the play started when he took a hit along the end boards to get a breakout pass to a streaking Turcotte. The junior collected the puck, split the defense on the rush, and riffled a shot that beat the goalie blocker side to tie the game at 1-1.
“He’s a game-breaker for us,” head coach Dave Burkholder said of Turcotte. “If we’re going to turn this thing around, he’s got to get going. He’s an all-league player when he’s going and that was a terrific goal. That was the best goal we’ve scored all year.”
“We dominated for 10 minutes [of the first period], but they didn’t budge,” said Burkholder. “That’s full throttle for us and it was 14-1 at one point in shots, but they didn’t budge.”
After a close checking second period came and went with the score still tied at 1-1, the Griffins were able to break through with a three-goal third period to come away with a 4-1 win. The first goal of the period came with 1:22 gone in the final frame, with the second coming with eight minutes left, and the final tally going in an empty net.
“I thought it was intensely fast, I thought it was physical,” Burkholder said. “They were able to break it open in the third with that late goal, but we have to be ready.”
The Purple Eagles penalty kill went a perfect 4-for-4 on the night. Jackson Teichroeb made 35 saves in the loss. Robert Angiolella was back on the ice for the Purple and White and went 15-for-20 in the face-off circle. TJ Sarcona was not far behind at a 12-for-19 showing.
“Rob was terrific for a guy who hasn’t played since early December,” Burkholder said. “I was concerned with his fitness level coming into today, but I thought Rob and Derian Plouffe were phenomenal. They are two young guys who rose to this challenge.”
These two teams hit the ice again this Saturday at 7:00 p.m. in Dwyer Arena.
