Junior Jimmy Mazza scored a shorthanded goal at the 6:18 mark of the third period to break a 2-2 tie and lift Canisius to a 3-2 victory over No. 18 Air Force in Atlantic Hockey Conference action Saturday at KeyBank Rink in HARBORCENTER.
Senior Jeff Murray and junior Dylan McLaughlin also scored for the Golden Griffins (2-2-1, 2-2-0 AHC). Kyle Mackey and Matt Pulver accounted for the two goals for the Falcons (5-1-1, 1-0-0 AHC).
Mazza’s game-winning goal came at the 6:40 mark of the third period, less than two minutes after Pulver tied the game with an unassisted effort.
On a faceoff in the Air Force zone during a power play opportunity for the Falcons, Murray won the ensuing draw to senior Ryan Schmelzer. Schmelzer played the puck back to Mazza, who unleashed a slap shot from just inside the blueline that found its way through traffic and into the Falcons net.
Earlier in the contest, Murray opened the scoring little more than three minutes into the first period when he put home a rebound on a shot from McLaughlin for his first goal of the campaign.
Mackey tied the game at 1-1 at the 11:58 mark of the first period, beating Canisius netminder Simon Hofley with a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle while the Falcons were in transition.
McLaughlin put Canisius back in front, 2-1, with less than three minutes remaining in the second period, wiring a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle past the glove hand of Air Force goaltender Billy Christopoulos during a Griffs power play opportunity.
Pulver drew the Falcons level at the 4:40 mark of the third period, collecting a loose puck in the neutral zone and racing into the Canisius end before sneaking a backhanded effort off the left post and in to tie the game at 2-2 and set up Mazza’s heroics.
Hofley recorded 24 saves in goal for Canisius. Christopoulos finished with 22 stops between the pipes for Air Force.
Head Coach Trevor Large’s Postgame Comments
“We talked before the game tonight about fighting for our game. It’s really easy to push and fight when you’re down a goal or two. Our guys certainly do that. My challenge to the team tonight was how much are we going to push and fight from the start of the game when its 0-0. How much energy can we put into how we want to play when its 0-0.
“I thought our guys battled from the opening faceoff to the final buzzer tonight and I was proud of that effort.”
Game Notes
Canisius moved to 13-18-9 all time against Air Force as it also improved to 5-9-4 versus the Falcons in Buffalo with Saturday’s one-goal victory.
The win over Air Force was Canisius’ seventh against a nationally-ranked opponent in program history and the first since a 4-1 victory at then No. 17 Denver on Oct. 26, 2013.
Canisius moved to 20-2-0 since the start of the 2106-17 season when scoring the opening goal of the contest.
The Griffs also improved to 19-0-0 since the beginning of the 2016-17 campaign when leading after 40 minutes.
Junior Simon Hofley recorded his victory in net for the Griffs since a 4-1 victory over Niagara on March 6, 2016.
Junior Jimmy Mazza recorded multiple points in a game for the fifth time in his career. The goal was also his fourth game-winning tally in a Canisius uniform.
Junior Dylan McLaughlin posted multiple points in a game for the fourth time this season and the 18th time in his career. The Griffs improved to 16-1-1 under those circumstances.
Senior Jeff Murray posted multiple points in a game for the fourth time in his career.
Up Next
Canisius takes to the road for the first time this season as it travels to the Nutmeg State Nov. 4-5 for a two-game AHC series against Sacred Heart.
The teams will play a pair of matinees at Webster Bank Arena, with puck drop for both contests set for 2:05 p.m.
