Nov. 30, 2007

Stats

Buffalo, N.Y. - Canisius broke open a tight game with two early third period goals and went on from there to defeat Mercyhurst 4-0 Friday night in an Atlantic Hockey Association game at the Buffalo State Sports Arena. The Golden Griffins snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to 3-9-2 overall and to 3-5-1 in the conference. The Lakers, winless in their last four (0-3-1), saw their record dip to 2-11-2 overall and 2-5-2 in Atlantic Hockey. The two teams will conclude the weekend set when they meet for the 50th time in the overall series Saturday night in Erie.

After a scoreless first period, sophomore defenseman Carl Hudson gave Canisius the only goal it would need when he beat Mercyhurst junior goaltender Matt Lundin on a power play just 49 seconds into the second frame. It was Hudson's fourth marker of the season.

The Golden Griffins opened some distance between the Lakers and themselves when they scored twice in the first 3:22 of the third. Senior forward Dave Kasch collected his fifth of the season on a breakaway just 55 ticks into the period and sophomore forward Josh Heidinger followed suit with his seventh of the season at 3:22. Sophomore winger Jason Weeks closed the scoring with his second of the year later in the period after Lundin lost his stick.

The shutout was the first for Canisius against Mercyhurst in Buffalo since the Golden Griffins prevailed 2-0 December 11, 1993, when both teams were Division III members of the ECAC West.

Lundin (1-4-1) took the loss in turning aside 28 shots while Canisius sophomore Andrew Loewen (2-5-1), the beneficiary of the offensive output, stopped 34.

The Golden Griffins, playing just their second regular season game at home, wore a gold-colored third jersey in narrowing Mercyhurst's lead in the all-time series to 28-14-7. The Griffs also extended their unbeaten streak against the Lakers to five games (2-0-3). The last time Mercyhurst defeated Canisius was March 11, 2006, a 7-2 verdict in an Atlantic Hockey quarterfinal game at the Ice Center.

Mercyhurst, playing without leading scorer Ben Cottreau and senior linemate Ryan Toomey, was shutout for the second time this season. Notre Dame turned the trick, also 4-0, in the consolation game of the Lefty McFadden Tournament in Dayton, Ohio, in mid-October.

Mercyhurst outshot Canisius 34-32, thanks to a 17-8 margin in the third. Mercyhurst was o for 4 with the man advantage while the Griffs finished 1 of 4.

Canisius remained perfect at home in the young season. The Griffs own an exhibition win over Royal Military (5-0) and conference wins over both RIT (6-2) and Mercyhurst.

Saturday's game starts at 7:05 at the Ice Center.