Canisius scored three goals in the second period to break a 1-1 tie and cruise to a 5-1 victory over visiting Bentley In Atlantic Hockey Conference action Friday at KeyBank Rink at HARBORCENTER.
Sophomore Nick Hutchison and juniors Jimmy Mazza and Matt McLeod scored during the middle frame for the Golden Griffins (5-4-1, 5-4-0 AHC). Freshman Grant Meyer opened the scoring with a power-play goal in the opening minute of the contest and senior Mike Sabatini closed out the contest with an even-strength marker late in the third.
Michael Zuffante accounted for the lone tally for the Falcons (1-6-3, 1-5-3 AHC).
The teams traded power-play goals in the opening 3:26 of the contest as Meyer recorded his first collegiate tally just 40 seconds into the game to give Canisius a 1-0 lead, only to see Zuffante respond a little less than three minutes later to tie the game at 1-1.
Hutchison put the Griffs in front, 2-1, just 63 seconds into the second period as he jammed home a rebound after McLeod’s initial attempt was stopped by Bentley keeper Aiden Pelino.
Mazza doubled the Canisius cushion to 3-1 just past the midway point of the frame, putting home a goalmouth feed from senior Nolan Sheeran.
McLeod increased the Griffs cushion to 4-1 in the final minute of the second, getting behind the Bentley defense and placing a wrist shot over the glove of Pelino for his first of the season.
Sabatini closed out the scoring with a little less than six minutes remaining in the third, beating Pelino five-hole with a wrist shot from the middle of the slot.
Sophomore Daniel Urbani got the start in goal for Canisius and finished with 19 saves. Pelino recorded 27 stops between the pipes for Bentley.
Head Coach Trevor Large’s Postgame Comments
“It was hard to say it was an adjustment; our guys started playing together better. The message in the first intermission was to play as a group of five. It takes five guys to break the puck out. It takes five guys to go in on a rush. It takes five guys to play in the offensive zone. In the first period, we were not playing as a group of five, so that was talked about and the guys obviously heard that message and played a lot better.
“It was very spread out tonight in terms of offense. There was effort from every line. To get in on a line rush and make plays; that’s part of why we are re a really good team. We have depth in terms of forwards, we have depth in the back end and I think it was showcased tonight.
“Tonight’s victory gives us an opportunity to sweep the series. It’s really hard to sweep anybody in college hockey. It’s not going to be easy tomorrow. It’s going to be a very difficult game. Bentley is going to come out and try to beat us. That’s what happens when you lose on Friday, you have to respond on Saturday. Our challenge is we have to be better than we were tonight.”
Game Notes
Canisius extended its unbeaten versus Bentley to nine games (7-0-2) with its victory on Friday. The Griffs also increased their lead in the all-time series to 31-24-6 with the win.
Canisius scored a power play goal in a game for the eighth time in 10 contests with Meyer’s first-period tally.
The Griffs improved to 5-0-1 this season and 23-2-0 since the start of the 2016-17 campaign when scoring the first goal of the contest.
Canisius tallied four or more goals for the second straight contest and third time this season as it improved to 17-0-0 since the beginning of the 2016-17 season when tallying four or more goals in a contest.
Junior Dylan McLaughlin extended his point-scoring streak to six games with an assist on Friday. McLaughlin has recorded 10 points (5g, 5a) during that stretch.
Junior Matt McLeod tallied multiple points in a game for the second time in his career.
Sophomore Nick Hutchison tallied two or more points in a contest for the second time this season and the seventh time in his career.
Senior Nolan Sheeran recorded his first point of the season with an assist on Mazza’s tally.
Up Next
Canisius and Bentley complete their two-game series Saturday with a 4:35 p.m. matinee at KeyBank Rink at HARBORCENTER.
