NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – On Veteran’s Day weekend at Dwyer Arena, the Niagara Purple Eagles hockey team displayed grit and tenacity to take a 3-2 win over the top team in Atlantic Hockey, the Army Black Knights. Johnny Curran (1+1) and Noah Delmas (0+2) each tallied two points, and Tanner Lomsnes scored the eventual game-winning goal 7:55 into the third period. Brian Wilson made 23 saves in goal, including 10 in the third period, to help Niagara hold on for the victory.
The win moves Niagara (6-3-1, 5-1-1 AHC) into second place in Atlantic Hockey, just one point behind the Black Knights. Niagara is off next week before starting a five-game road trip at undefeated Cornell on Tuesday, Nov. 21.
Game Summary
* Final Score: Niagara 3, Army 2
* Niagara Goal Scorers: Johnny Curran, Stanislav Dzakhov, Tanner Lomsnes
* Niagara Assists: Johnny Curran, Noah Delmas (2), Sam Rennaker, James Roll
* In Goal: Brian Wilson (4-2-1) – 2 GA, 23 SV
* Power Plays: Niagara – 1-for-6 (11 SOG); Army – 1-for-8 (8 SOG)
* Records: Niagara – 6-3-1 (5-1-1 AHC); Army – 6-4-0 (6-4-0 AHC)
* Location: Dwyer Arena – Niagara University, NY
* Attendance: 958
Game Recap
* While both teams came out flying to start the second game of the weekend series, both defenses negated any quality scoring chances early, as Army held a 2-1 lead in shots on goal 13 minutes into the game.
* The first tally of the contest came 1:31 into the second period with a Niagara power play about to expire. Noah Delmas and James Roll worked the puck along the blue line with Roll finding Johnny Curran low on the left wing boards. Curran snuck a shot from a sharp angle past Army goaltender Cole Bruns to make it a 1-0 game.
* Just 29 seconds later, Zach Evancho leveled the score at 1-1 for Army, burying a rebound off the rush from Conor Andrle’s shot.
* Sean King had a breakaway attempt stuffed by the pad of Bruns midway through the second period, but Stanislav Dzakhov was able to find the back of the net shortly after to make it 2-1. Dzakhov loaded up from low on the right wing and picked the top corner short-side to reclaim the lead for Niagara.
* Dzakhov was removed from the game in the final minute of the second period, receiving a five-minute penalty and game misconduct for hitting from behind. Niagara was able to kill off the entire penalty and hold on to that 2-1 lead.
* At the 7:55 mark of the third period, Tanner Lomsnes scored his team-best eighth goal of the season to push the lead to two. Sam Rennaker forced a turnover near the Army bench, drove behind the goal and nearly put a wraparound chance past Bruns. Lomsnes swooped in and buried the rebound to make it 3-1 Niagara.
* The Purple Eagles were caught taking consecutive penalties midway through the third, allowing Army to get back into the game. Niagara killed off one penalty, but two seconds into the second power-play, Michael Wilson buried a loose puck in front of Niagara’s Brian Wilson to draw the Black Knights within one.
* Army killed off a Niagara 5-on-3 opportunity with five minutes to go in the game. The Black Knights pulled Bruns after Niagara’s Chris Harpur was called for hooking to take a 6-on-4 advantage, but Wilson and the Niagara defense held strong to take the 3-2 victory.
Coach’s Corner
* Head coach Jason Lammers: “I thought this weekend that our guys competed at an elite level and it was impressive to see as they continue to believe and trust in each other. I thought we got really great goaltending. Obviously, that really helped us and Noah Delmas and the d-core really made entries hard. I really was impressed with our PK, specifically our PK faceoffs. It was an impressive weekend for us and we look forward to resting up on the week off and getting back after it.”
Inside the Numbers
* Niagara’s 6-3-1 start remains the best since the 2007-08 campaign when the Purple Eagles recorded a 7-3-0 record in the opening 10 games.
* The Purple Eagles currently sit second in Atlantic Hockey with 11 points in conference play.
* Johnny Curran recorded his first multiple-point game since scoring twice in Niagara’s 4-3 overtime win over RPI on Oct. 20, 2017.
* Noah Delmas tallied two assists in a game for the third time this season. His 12 assists on the year are the most by any player in Atlantic Hockey and tied for third in the NCAA.
* Niagara’s win was just the fourth time in 10 games this season that Army has allowed three goals or more in a game.
* The Purple Eagles outshot Army 29-25, also holding advantages in faceoffs (38-22) and blocked shots (10-8).
* Niagara has held each of its last eight opponents under 30 shots after allowing more than 30 in the first two games.
Up Next
* Niagara has next week off from game action before starting a five-game road trip. The Purple Eagles will start the road stretch back in non-conference play, heading to Ithaca to take on currently undefeated Cornell at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21.
* The Purple Eagles then head to Massachusetts to take on the American International Yellow Jackets for a two-game series on Thanksgiving weekend. Niagara and AIC square off at 2:05 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 24 and 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25.
