SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - One night after a scoreless draw, the American International College ice hockey team potted a goal per period as they flew past the Niagara Purple Eagles by a 3-1 score to move within a point of first place in Atlantic Hockey.
The Yellow Jackets improve to 3-5-6 overall, with a 3-4-5 record in AHC play.
The first period was similar to the previous night's game, with no scoring early despite several power play opportunities for the visiting Purple Eagles. AIC's PK held Niagara to just two shots on those three advantages and three in the period overall.
Late in the frame, however, a rookie trio lit the lamp for the first time on the weekend, as Blake Christensen and Martin Mellberg dished to defenseman Nicolas Luka, who cut into the slot, moved the puck through the legs of Niagara defenseman Vinny Muto, and poked it past goalkeeper Jackson Teichroeb at 18:54 for his first collegiate goal.
"We talked about making it chaotic at the net," said AIC head coach Eric Lang. "And it's going to be something maybe off a skate or off a shin pad. Luka made an incredible effort, it was less fluky than it looked. He made a great play. Martin with a great pass in the neutral zone. That's what it takes - it's hard to score, so if you want to score, you have to get close to the net, and Niko was close to the net there."
In the second period, the penalty parade continued, with both teams taking multiple infractions, and on a five-on-three, Christensen took a shot that was stopped, but classmate Hugo Reinhardt pushed the rebound out to senior Austin Orszulak, and the captain had an open net to fire his fifth of the year into at 12:06 to extend the lead to 2-0.
"It was kind of a broken play," Christensen said. "I found Orzy on the back and he doesn't really miss from there, and that was a good goal."
In the third, Christensen and Reinhardt again made the plays, this time to classmate Martin Mellberg, who came out in front on the left side of the slot and took a pass from Reinhardt, who was in the right corner, and ripped it over the glove of Teichroeb for a 3-0 lead on his fifth of the year at 3:43.
Niagara spoiled the shutout of junior Alex Murray on a late power play goal, as a deflection behind the net came to Nick Farmer, who fired a cross pass to Stanislav Dzhakov for a back-door tap in at 13:44. The goal was Dzakhov's third of the season.
However, Murray still earned the win, improving to 2-1-2 on the year, making 13 saves. His counterpart, Teichroeb, made 24 saves in the defeat.
AIC next hits the ice on Friday at Army West Point, who currently sit atop the AHC with 12 points. The battle for first place in the league is scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. puck drop at Tate Rink.
