PITTSBURGH, PA – Redshirt senior Jack Billings scored twice, including the game-winner in Saturday night’s double-overtime win against Robert Morris to force a decisive game three against the Colonials tomorrow night.
1st Period
• The Purple Eagles scored first as Jack Billings got his first goal of the game midway through the opening period.
• Robert Morris would tie the game in the latter portion of the period, scoring on the power play to even the score, 1-1.
• Ludwig Stenlund scored the Purple Eagles’ second goal of the game, taking a rebound off the end wall and depositing it in the back of the net.
• Both teams registered 11 shots on net in the first stanza.
2nd Period
• Robert Morris got an early power-play opportunity, but Niagara was able to kill the man-up chance to hold onto its 2-1 lead.
• The Colonials tied the game as Nick Prkusic scored from the high slot 6:41 into the second period.
• Niagara would kill another penalty during the period while also failing to capitalize on its power play chance.
• The Purple Eagles had plenty of chances in the second period, generating 11 shots on goal in the frame.
3rd Period
• The Niagara power-play unit got two chances to help the Purple Eagles take the lead in the first half of the period but failed to score on either opportunity.
• For the second night in a row, neither team could win it in regulation.
• Through three periods of play, the Colonials held the advantage in shots 34-29.
• Robert Morris also won 42-of-64 faceoffs through 60-minutes, including 5-of-8 in the third.
First Overtime
• Chad Veltri was busy in the first overtime period as the sophomore made 17 saves to keep Niagara’s season alive.
• The Purple and White put six shots on goal during OT.
• Robert Morris held the advantage in the faceoff circle, winning 14-of-25 draws.
Second Overtime
• It took 7:31 into the second overtime for the Purple Eagles to score the game-winner and force a decisive game three.
• Billings put a prayer of a shot on net that found its way past the Colonial keeper and into the net for the goal.
Game Notes
• Chad Veltri made a career-high 49 saves, surpassing his previous career-high of 43 he set as a freshman.
• Niagara is 3-5 this season in games decided by one goal or less.
• Niagara finished the game 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.
• Billings recorded his first multi-goal game of the season.
• Stenlund scored his seventh goal of the season, giving him 13 points on the year.
• Saturday was the third-longest game in program history. The longest game was a triple-overtime thriller against Holy Cross that lasted 110:40.
Up Next
• Niagara and Robert Morris will play a decisive game three Sunday night at 7 p.m.
• If Niagara wins, it will play host and defending tournament champions AIC.
• If the Colonials win, they will play Army.
(Niagara U. Men’s Hockey Photo)
