Re: Atlantic Hockey Pick'em 2010-2011
Niagara 6, Canisius 5, OT
11/2/2010
PurpleEagles.com
BUFFALO, N.Y. - A record-breaking shorthanded goal by senior Paul Zanette pushed the Niagara men's hockey team (2-3-2, 2-1-0 AHA) past cross-town rival Canisius 6-5 in overtime on Tuesday evening in front of 1,421 at the Buffalo State Sports Arena.
Up 5-3 with a minute to go, the Golden Griffins struck twice within 27 seconds to tie the game at five. Halfway through overtime Jason Beattie was whistled with a minor and a 10-minute game misconduct, putting Niagara on the penalty kill for the rest of the game. Niagara was strong on the forecheck on the penalty kill, which allowed Zanette to curl to the left of Canisius netminder Dan Morrison and throw a shot on net, which went of the netminder's skate and into the net.
Zanette's game-winning shorthanded goal was his sixth career shorthanded goal, allowing him to break Niagara's career shorthanded goal record that he once shared with Mikko Sivonen (1996-00).
"It was a great feeling," Zanette said. "I curled around the net, put a shot on net and hoped for the best."
Canisius took the 1-0 lead just 1:21 into the first period, when Eric Rex skated into the slot and slid the puck low, past Purple Eagle netminder Carsen Chubak. Ben Danford would score for the Golden Griffins about three minutes later, sneaking one in just under the crossbar that was originally waved off by the referee.
The Purple Eagles would get back in the game halfway through the stanza, when sophomore Giancarlo Iuorio roofed a backhanded shot on the man-advantage past Morrison. Niagara would tie the game with 3:37 left in the first period, when Zanette slammed home a rebound on the doorstep. The Purple Eagles outshot the Golden Griffins by a 20-4 margin after 20 minutes.
The Golden Griffins would take their second lead of the night shorthanded, when Rex fed the puck to an open Scott Moser on a two-on-one oddman rush nine minutes into the second period. Freshman Scott Arnold would tie the game by beating Morrison stick side, after a nifty move along the near boards to get past the Canisius defenseman. Niagara kept its decisive offensive advantage by a 27-10 margin through 40 minutes.
Niagara took the lead for the first time six minutes into the third period, when senior Bryan Haczyk beat Morrison stick side for the team's second power play goal of the game. The Purps took a 5-3 lead with 8:34 when freshman Ryan Rashid stuffed a bouncing puck into the net.
"It feels good to win that game, as I think we got what we deserved," head Niagara men's hockey coach Dave Burkholder said. "I think we carried play when it was five on five, especially during the first period."
2008 CHA Champs!
2006-7 CHA RS Champs!
2005-6 CHA RS Champs!
2004 CHA Champs!
2008 NCAA Tournament
2004 NCAA Tournament
2000 NCAA Tournament - Elite Eight 
