SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Purple Eagles hockey team scored four goals in the first 40 minutes to propel the team to a huge road win over the American International Yellow Jackets. Despite two goals from AIC in the final period, Niagara was able to secure the 4-3 win, and the two-game weekend sweep, thanks to the early offensive outburst Saturday afternoon at the Olympia Ice Center.
Stanislav Dzakhov led Niagara scorers with a goal and an assist in the game. Johnny Curran scored a power-play goal for his first tally as a Purple Eagle, while Derian Plouffe and Matt Dineen also scored for Niagara in its second win of the weekend. Jackson Teichroeb started in net for the second straight night and stopped 34 of 37 shots against.
“We played so well early in this game and got the offense going,” head coach Dave Burkholder said. “Later on, we got sloppy trying to do too much and turning pucks over. They gained momentum, but we were able to hold on for a huge win.”
With the victory, the Purple Eagles (5-20-3, 5-15-2 Atlantic Hockey) picked up their first weekend sweep of the season. The win also moved Niagara to 12 points in the Atlantic Hockey standings to tie AIC, with the Purple Eagles taking tenth place based on tiebreakers.
Plouffe opened the scoring just 1:48 into the game on a play that started when Vinny Muto fed Dzakhov with a long breakout pass up the right wing boards, which was redirected to Plouffe. Coming up the wing, the sophomore scorer roofed a shot over the shoulder of AIC goaltender Alex Murray for his tenth goal of the season. Late in the first, Dzakhov doubled the Niagara lead. Tanner Lomsnes forced a turnover at the AIC blue line, deked a defender, and fed Dzakhov for a one-time slap shot along the ice.
Curran opened the second-period scoring with a power-play tally. Niko Kovachis’ point shot hit Albin Karlsson in front of the AIC net, and the loose puck found its way to the stick of Curran, who made no mistake burying the rebound. With the assist, Kovachis extended his scoring streak to four games, totaling one goal and three assists.
After the Yellow Jackets (5-22-2, 5-16-2 Atlantic Hockey) got on the board with a goal by David Gandara, Niagara reestablished its three-goal lead. Kevin Patterson and Brock Edwards won a battle along the right wing boards and fed Dineen at the point. The senior captain’s long wrist shot floated right into the top corner of the net, beating Murray’s glove for the eventual game-winning goal.
Teichroeb made 18 saves on 19 AIC shots in the second period, but the Yellow Jackets did not let up in the third. Austin Orszulak picked up a goal off a tipped shot just 36 seconds into the third to make it 4-2 Niagara, and he also beat Teichroeb with a wrist shot with 4:16 to play in regulation. Despite pulling the goalie in the final 90 seconds, AIC was unable to find the equalizer as Niagara took the 4-3 win.
The Purple Eagles return to Western New York next weekend for a home-and-home series against the Mercyhurst Lakers. The series begins Friday, Feb. 12 with a 7:05 p.m. contest at Dwyer Arena. Tickets can be purchased at the Dwyer Arena ticket office or by phone at (716) 286-TIXX (8499).
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