BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – After a last-minute loss on Friday night to the Sacred Heart Pioneers, the Purple Eagles hockey team bounced back in commanding fashion to take a win and split the weekend series. Johnny Curran scored twice, while Stephen Pietrobon and Nicolas Carrier filled out the goal scoring in a 4-0 victory over Sacred Heart Saturday afternoon at Webster Bank Arena.
Jackson Teichroeb made the start in goal and picked up his first win and first shutout of the season, tallying 37 total saves. Teichroeb earned his sixth career shutout as a Purple Eagle.
Game Summary
· Final Score: Niagara 4, Sacred Heart 0
· Niagara Goal Scorers: Johnny Curran (2), Nicolas Carrier, Stephen Pietrobon
· Niagara Assists: Derek Brown (2), Noah Delmas, Niko Kovachis, Vinny Muto, Derian Plouffe, TJ Sarcona, Tyler Tomberlin
· In Goal: Jackson Teichroeb (1-3-1) – 0 GA, 37 SV, SO
· Power Plays: Niagara – 1-for-5 (4 SH); Sacred Heart – 0-for-4 (10 SH)
· Location: Webster Bank Arena – Bridgeport, Conn.
· Attendance: 202
Game Recap
· Just 40 seconds into the game, Niagara was able to take the 1-0 lead over Sacred Heart. Derian Plouffe and TJ Sarcona helped the puck out the Niagara zone to Johnny Curran. Curran and Sarcona broke in 2-on-1 against the Pioneers, and Curran ripped a shot past Sacred Heart’s Brett Magnus.
· Niagara was successful on its lone penalty kill of the first period, as Jackson Teichroeb made four saves and Noah Delmas blocked a shot against Sacred Heart’s Austin McIlmurray.
· Sacred Heart took two penalties eight seconds apart late in the first period, but the Pioneers were able to hold Niagara off the scoreboard on that lengthy chance.
· After killing off a penalty midway through the second period, Niagara was able to make it 2-0 thanks to Nicolas Carrier’s first collegiate goal.
· Vinny Muto sent a stretch pass up the right boards to Tyler Tomberlin, who broke in all alone on the Sacred Heart goal. His deke was turned away by Magnus, but Carrier followed up on the rebound to double Niagara’s lead.
· With 4:38 to play in the second, Stephen Pietrobon scored his second goal of the season to make it 3-0. Noah Delmas sent a long pass up ice to Derek Brown, putting Niagara on a 3-on-2 rush. Brown found Pietrobon alone on the right wing, and he deked Magnus to score past the right pad.
· Four minutes later, on the man advantage, Brown made another sensational pass to make it 4-0, crossing the slot and finding Johnny Curran low on the left wing for the one-time strike.
· Teichroeb registered 23 shots through 40 minutes to keep Sacred Heart off the board.
· The Pioneers fought back in the third period looking to narrow the deficit, outshooting Niagara 14-3 in the final stanza. Teichroeb denied all 14 shots, including three on two Sacred Heart power plays, to earn the shutout.
Coach’s Corner
· Head coach David Burkholder: “What a gutsy response by our team after a heartbreaker of a loss last night. I am very happy for Teichs on his shutout. He had a great performance, managing the game well with whistles and rebound control. All the way down the lineup, we played with a great edge.”
Inside the Numbers
· Jackson Teichroeb earned his sixth career shutout with his 37-save performance at Sacred Heart. He made two shutouts last season and three as a freshman in 2013-14.
· Johnny Curran registered his second two-goal game of the season, the first coming in a 3-3 tie at RPI on Oct. 21. He has a team-high six goals and three power-play goals this season.
· With an assist on Curran’s first-period goal, Derian Plouffe is now on a three-game point streak, with two goals and two assists in that span.
· The Purple Eagles blocked 18 shots to Sacred Heart’s seven. Sam Rennaker and Noah Delmas led the way with a game-high three blocks each.
· Delmas also tallied his team-best seventh assist of the season on Pietrobon’s goal.
· Nicolas Carrier and Tyler Tomberlin both scored the first points of their collegiate career in the win.
· Niagara is now 2-1-2 in games when they score three or more goals.
Up Next
· The Purple Eagles hit the road on Thanksgiving weekend for a two-game set at American International. Opening faceoff on Friday, November 25 is set for 2:05 p.m., while the second game on Saturday, November 26 will begin at 5:05 p.m.
Defend Dwyer Arena
· Niagara returns to Dwyer Arena for a pair of games against the RIT Tigers in two weeks. The games on Friday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 3 are slated for a 7:05 p.m. faceoff. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster, by phone at (716) 286-TIXX (8499), or in person at the Dwyer Arena box office.
