POTSDAM, N.Y.—Second-ranked SUNY Geneseo (4-1-1, 2-1-1 SUNYAC) scored in each period to defeat the SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (3-3, 0-2) 3-0 on Saturday night. Senior assistant captain Nate Skidmore (Syracuse, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) made 33 saves for the Bears.
After the teams traded the first four penalties to open the contest, the Knights started to control the play. They outshot Potsdam 15-6 in the first period, but weren’t rewarded until the 19:45 mark. Junior forward Conlan Keenan (Penfield, N.Y./Jersey Hitmen) finished an odd-man rush to send Geneseo into the intermission up 1-0.
After killing off the Bears’ third power play of the night, Geneseo went on five consecutive of its own. Though the shots were more even at 12-9, the Knights again struck in the final minute of play. At 19:54, junior forward Tyson Empey (Swift Current, Saskatchewan/Flin Flon Bombers) doubled the lead with a power-play goal.
Geneseo had three more power plays in the third period, but Potsdam’s penalty kill and eight more saves from Skidmore gave the Bears a chance. With 1:21 remaining, Skidmore was pulled for an extra attacker. With 44 seconds on the clock, Geneseo controlled the puck off the faceoff and junior defenseman Cam Russell (Royal Oak, Mich./Kemptville 73’s) ripped the shot the length of the ice into the net to close the scoring.
Senior goalie Devin McDonald (Calgary, Alberta/Camrose Kodiaks) stopped 23 shots for the shutout.
Geneseo outshot Potsdam 36-23 and was just 1-for-10 on the power play. The Bears were 0-for-4.
Potsdam is back in action on Saturday when they host Plattsburgh State at 7 p.m.
