SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Niagara Purple Eagles hockey team and the American International Yellow Jackets played an even game through 40 minutes, with a Niagara power-play goal and AIC shorthanded goal making it 1-1 entering the final period. Niagara’s Justin Kendall and Johnny Curran had a pair of point-blank chances stoned before AIC scored a 3-on-2 goal midway through the third period to take the lead for good. Two empty-net goals gave the Yellow Jackets a 4-1 win over Niagara Saturday night at the MassMutual Center
Game Summary
· Final Score: American International 4, Niagara 1
· Niagara Goal Scorers: Tanner Lomsnes
· Niagara Assists: Derian Plouffe, James Roll
· In Goal: Brian Wilson (5-4-1) – 2 GA, 23 SV
· Power Plays: Niagara – 1-for-4 (2 SOG); American International – 0-for-2 (3 SOG)
· Records: Niagara – 7-5-1 (6-2-1 AHC); American International – 5-9-2 (4-6-2 AHC)
· Location: MassMutual Center – Springfield, MA
· Attendance: 247
Game Recap
· Niagara received an early power play midway through the first period and was able to convert to open the scoring. Working from the blue line to the goal line, James Roll set up Derian Plouffe down low, who fed Tanner Lomsnes on top of the AIC crease for the quick redirection and the 1-0 lead.
· Brian Wilson turned in another strong game for Niagara making 16 saves in the first two periods. The only goal given up in that time came at the 10:28 mark of the second, as a turnover just inside the AIC blue line led to a shorthanded 3-on-2 for the Yellow Jackets, and Andrew Debrincat set up Brennan Kapcheck for the tying goal.
· Late in the second period, a blocked shot out to the neutral zone sprung defenseman Chris Harpur on a breakaway during a 4-on-4 situation. With a strong backcheck from AIC, Harpur shot quick to try and beat AIC goaltender Alex Murray, but the Yellow Jackets held up to keep the score at 1-1 after 40 minutes.
· Eight minutes in to the third period, Niagara got its best push of the game to reclaim the lead. Johnny Curran set up Justin Kendall for a one-time chance from the faceoff dot to the right of Murray with 12 minutes to play, but Murray made a sprawling blocker save. Just seconds later after Niagara retained possession, it was Kendall who set up Curran for a shot from the same spot, but Murray made an identical save to keep it tied.
· With 7:18 to play, the Yellow Jackets broke out on a 3-on-2 at the end of a long shift for Niagara. Wilson made the initial stop on AIC’s Blake Christensen, but the rebound stayed in the slot and Shawn McBride poked home the eventual game-winning goal.
· Wilson headed to the bench for the extra attacker with three minutes to play, and AIC’s Jared Pike ended up scoring two empty-net goals while the Yellow Jackets held the Purple Eagles in check, ending the game at 4-1.
Coach’s Corner
· Head coach Jason Lammers: “I thought we earned some chances and I really liked how we played, we took our chances. They played well, but we need to do more to be ready for everybody’s ‘A’ game, and I’m excited to see how this team takes the next step.”
Inside the Numbers
· Niagara was held under three goals for just the fourth time in 13 games. The Purple Eagles are 0-4-0 when scoring two goals or less and 7-1-1 when scoring three or more.
· Saturday marked Niagara’s first conference loss on the road, having swept Sacred Heart in a two-game road series in October before winning Friday’s matchup 3-1 at AIC.
· Tanner Lomsnes scored his team-leading 10th goal of the season in the loss. He also leads Niagara with four power-play tallies and is third overall with 13 points.
· Brian Wilson is now fourth among Atlantic Hockey goaltenders with a goals-against average of 2.43 on the season. He has the best GAA mark of any AHC goaltender in conference play, with a 1.89 goals-against average, .920 save percentage, and a 5-2-1 record against Atlantic Hockey competition.
· Niagara’s power play found the back of the net on its first attempt Saturday after AIC killed all five penalties in the Purple Eagles’ 3-1 win on Friday. The Purple Eagles closed the weekend a perfect 7-for-7 on the penalty kill.
· AIC held a narrow 35-34 edge in the faceoff circle. Derian Plouffe led Niagara by winning 16 of his 23 faceoff attempts.
· With an assist on Lomsnes’ goal, Plouffe is now on a three-game point streak with two goals and two assists in that time.
Up Next
· Niagara wraps up a five-game road trip next weekend as the Purple Eagles fly west for two games against the Air Force Falcons. Niagara and Air Force will face off at 9:05 p.m. on Friday, December 1 and 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, December 2.
