TROY, N.Y. – The Niagara power play continued its hot start to the 2016-17 season, and that was a major factor in the Purple Eagles’ non-conference opener at RPI. Johnny Curran scored a pair of goals, a power-play tally in the second period and the game-tying goal with 3:14 left in regulation, to help Niagara to a 3-3 tie Friday night at the Houston Field House.
The Purple Eagles went 2-for-9 on the man advantage against an RPI penalty kill that was a perfect 17-for-17 entering the contest. Jackson Teichroeb returned to the net and made 38 saves on 41 RPI shots, including four key stops in overtime and nine saves on 10 RPI power-play shots.
Game Summary
· Final Score: Niagara 3, RPI 3 (OT)
· Niagara Goal Scorers: Derian Plouffe, Johnny Curran (2)
· Niagara Assists: Tyler Hayes (2), Ryan Kuhn, Derian Plouffe
· In Goal: Jackson Teichroeb (0-1-1) – 3 GA, 38 SV
· Power Plays: Niagara – 2-for-9 (5 SH); RPI – 1-for-9 (10 SH)
· Location: Houston Field House – Troy, N.Y.
· Attendance: 3,063
Game Recap
· Each side had plenty of scoring chances in the first period, with the shots on goal favoring the Engineers 11-9. Jackson Teichroeb made three saves in a 30-second flurry by RPI to close the period.
· Niagara had three power-play chances in the first 20 minutes. That gave the Purple Eagles plenty of chances to get on the board, but RPI’s Chase Perry kept the score sheet clean.
· The Purple Eagles scored the first goal of the game for the third time in four games this season. On the power play, Ryan Kuhn corralled the puck in the high slot, finding Derian Plouffe to the right of the goal. Plouffe roofed a shot over Perry for the 1-0 lead at the 11:05 mark of the second period.
· Just 38 seconds later, RPI’s Evan Tironese tied the game at one. However, Niagara scored its second power-play tally of the evening 57 seconds after that. Plouffe, again setting up with the puck on the right wing, fed the pass across the slot to Johnny Curran for a one-timer past Perry.
· The Engineers reclaimed the lead late in the third period, putting the Purple Eagles in a 3-2 deficit with just over five minutes to play.
· Lou Nanne tied the game for RPI just 1:44 into the third period. On the power play, Jared Wilson launched a shot from the blue line straight on the net, and it sailed over Teichroeb’s right shoulder to give the Engineers the 3-2 lead.
· With 3:14 to play, however, it was Curran who came up with the game-tying goal. An RPI defender floated an errant behind-the-back pass just inside their blue line. The pass set up a perfect one-time opportunity for Curran, and he lasered a slap shot over the shoulder of Perry for the final goal of the evening.
· Shots on goal were even at four apiece during the overtime period, with Perry and Teichroeb combining to make all eight saves.
Coach’s Corner
· Head coach David Burkholder: “We are making progress as a team. Tonight was a solid 65-minute effort by our guys. We did a great job on both special teams, and got great goaltending from Jackson.”
Inside the Numbers
· Niagara finished the night 2-for-9 on the man advantage, giving the team five power-play goals through four contests, with at least one power-play goal in each game. For the season, the Niagara power play is now 5-for-29 (17.2 percent). The Purple Eagles’ two power-play goals were the first scored against RPI in five games this year.
· Jackson Teichroeb’s 38 saves were his most in one game since stopping 42 pucks at Air Force on Jan. 22, 2015. They were also the most by a Niagara goaltender in a game this season.
· Johnny Curran scored multiple points for the first time in his Niagara career. He is the fifth current Niagara player to score two goals in a game as a Purple Eagle, joining Vinny Muto, Stephen Pietrobon, Derian Plouffe, and TJ Sarcona. All five have one multiple-goal game, and Niagara is 3-0-2 in those contests.
· A native of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Curran now leads Niagara with three goals and a plus-3 rating in the 2016-17 campaign. He is tied for the team lead with three points, joining Plouffe and Kris Spriggs (1+2) and Noah Delmas (0+3).
· Tyler Hayes joined fellow rookie defenseman Noah Delmas as the two Purple Eagles to score two assists in a game this season.
· Niagara won more faceoffs than their opponent for the fourth time in four games this season, going 42-for-77 in the circle (.545 percentage). Plouffe led the way with 15 wins on 25 draws.
· The Purple Eagles tied a season-high with 16 blocked shots, matching their total from both games against Holy Cross on Oct. 7 and Oct. 8. Tyler Hayes led the way with four blocks, and he has a team-high 11 through four games.
Up Next
· Niagara’s stretch of three road games in five days wraps up on Saturday afternoon with a 4 p.m. matchup at Union. The Dutchmen enter Saturday’s game coming off a 5-2 win over the RIT Tigers on Friday night.
Defend Dwyer Arena
· The Purple Eagles return to Dwyer Arena next weekend, hosting the No. 19 Ohio State Buckeyes on Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29. Both games will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster, by phone at (716) 286-TIXX (8499), or in person at the Dwyer Arena box office.
Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for hockey updates, follow @NiagaraUHockey. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook.com/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.
From: Joseph Ray
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2016 2:19 PM
To: Amy Moritz; Bernie Puchalski; Bill Potrecz; Brandon Folsom; Chris Lerch; Dan Hickling; Jeremy White; Mike McMahon; Nate Ewell; Nick Wojton; Paul Hamilton; Randy Schultz; Steffan Waters; Thomas Baldwin; Warren Kozireski
Subject: Purple Eagles Hockey Opens Non-Conference Play At RPI, Union
This weekend, the Purple Eagles hockey team heads on its first road trip of the 2016-17 season. Niagara opens its six-game non-conference slate Friday evening against the RPI Engineers at 7 p.m. From there, Niagara stays in the Albany area and takes on the Union Dutchmen in a 4 p.m. Saturday matinee. This weekend marks Niagara’s first meeting with RPI since 2010 and its first with Union since 2011.
Jeremy White has the play-by-play call both Friday and Saturday on 1340 AM WLVL. Video streams and live stats are also available for both road contests.
What to Watch For
• The Niagara Purple Eagles kick off their 2016-17 non-conference schedule with a pair of road contests this weekend.
• Niagara starts the series at the Houston Field House on Friday night, taking on the RPI Engineers in a 7 p.m. contest. From there, Niagara takes on Union in a 4 p.m. matinee on Saturday afternoon.
• The Purple Eagles and Engineers will face off for the first time in six years. Niagara holds a 4-2-0 lead in the all-time series, but RPI won the last matchup 4-3 in overtime on Oct. 23, 2010.
• Union and Niagara last played on Oct. 21, 2011, and the Purple Eagles battled to a 3-3 tie with the 12th-ranked Dutchmen on home ice.
• The week’s action began on Tuesday for the Purple Eagles, who mounted a strong comeback at Mercyhurst before falling 4-2 on the road.
• Tanner Lomsnes scored a 5-on-3 power-play goal for Niagara at Mercyhurst. The Purple Eagles’ power play sits at 3-for-20 (15.0 percent) through three contests.
• Derek Brown scored the first goal of his collegiate career as well on Tuesday, burying a rebound shot from Sam Rennaker and Vinny Muto with 14:44 left in regulation.
• Joe O’Brien stopped 36 of 40 shots against in his first start of the season.
Strong Start for Spriggs
• Kris Spriggs earned the first weekly award for a Purple Eagle this season, as he was named Travel Team USA Rookie of the Week on Oct. 11 by Atlantic Hockey.
• In the opening weekend, Spriggs tied with Niagara’s Noah Delmas for the conference rookie scoring lead. He led all freshmen with 10 shots on goal in the weekend and added a plus-2 rating.
• Delmas and Spriggs still share the rookie scoring lead entering Tuesday’s game at Mercyhurst.
The Power of Niagara
• Niagara has started the 2016-17 season with power-play goals in three straight games.
• Niagara last tallied power-play goals in three consecutive games from Jan. 9 to 16, 2016 in one game against Mercyhurst and two against Canisius.
• Eight of Niagara’s nine power-play points this season have come from freshmen and sophomores. Sophomore forward Tanner Lomsnes leads Niagara with two points (1+1) on the man advantage.
• Sophomore forward Sean King scored his fourth career power-play goal on Oct. 8 versus Holy Cross, tying junior Derian Plouffe and senior TJ Sarcona for the team lead.
• Through three games, the power-play units have shown strong improvements from a season ago. Niagara’s power play went 12-for-132 (9.1 percent) during the 2015-16 campaign.
Dominating the Dot
• Niagara has won the faceoff battle in all three games this season and boasts a .521 faceoff percentage (110-for-211) to date.
• TJ Sarcona has a .632 faceoff percentage (36-for-57) after winning 12 of 13 draws at Mercyhurst on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
• Derian Plouffe, one of the NCAA’s leaders in faceoff percentage a season ago, is second on the team having won 30 of 55 faceoffs in three games (.545 faceoff percentage.).
Facing the Nation
• Atlantic Hockey teams have fared well against non-conference opponents this season, with a 6-7-5 record outside of the league.
• Air Force (2-1 vs. No. 5 Boston College) and Holy Cross (2-1 OT vs. No. 11 Providence) have earned upset wins over ranked opponents. Bentley also earned a 1-1 tie against No. 16 Northeastern.
• Air Force, Holy Cross, Army, and RIT all received votes in the latest USCHO.com poll.
Defend Dwyer Arena
• The Purple Eagles’ next two home games take place on Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29 against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Both games are set for a 7 p.m. opening faceoff.
• Tickets are available on Ticketmaster, by phone at (716) 286-TIXX (8499), or in person at the Dwyer Arena box office.
