Complete Box Score

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – It was evident Saturday night that the Mercyhurst men's hockey team had forgotten Friday night's lackluster performance against RIT. Sophomore goaltender Jordan Tibbett went toe-to-toe with the Atlantic Hockey's leading netminder, the Tigers' senior Shane Madolora, and helped the Lakers play to a 2-2 overtime tie at the Frank Ritter Memorial Arena. The Lakers picked up a huge point and remained only one point behind the Tigers in conference play.

Mercyhurst saw its record go to 14-10-4 overall and 11-4-4 in conference play. Mercyhurst is now 2-0-4 in overtime games this season. RIT moves to 15-8-3 overall and 12-4-3 in conference play. The two teams finished regular season play 1-1-1.

Tibbett was masterful, stopping 37-of-39 shots, including three shots in the overtime period. Madolora stopped 34-of-36.
 
Both teams were held scoreless in the opening twenty minutes, but it was Mercyhurst who owned the better scoring chancest. The Lakers had an excellent opportunity just four minutes in. Sophomore Kyle Just ripped a slapshot off the shoulder of Madolora/ The puck got behind the RIT netminder, but trickled just wide of the goal.

Mercyhurst had two more golden opportunities in the final 3:15 of the first period. Junior Grant Blakey cut in from the right wing corner and ripped a shot that Madolora that stopped with his left pad. Freshman Nardo Nagtzaam was on the doorstep for the rebound, but Madolora robbed him as well. Just 90 seconds later, freshman Kyle Johnson let a shot go from the right wing circle that was stopped.  Forward Kyle Just was there for the follow, but Madolora slid across to make the save.

Shots favored Mercyhurst in the opening period, 13-11.

The contest remained scoreless until late in the second period when RIT took a 1-0 lead. An initial blast from Matt Garbowsky was stopped by Tibbett, but a long rebound was left right in the slot. RIT defenseman Chris Haltigin  banged it home for his second goal of the season at 18:36 to put the Tigers shead 1-0.. Taylor McReynolds had the other assist.
Shots again favored the Lakers in the second period, this time by a 12-10 margin.

Mercyhurst finally solved Madolora just 44 seconds into the third period. Sophomore Nick Jones, pinching down the slot, received a feed from freshman Daniel Bahntge and went top shelf for his seventh goal of the season, tying the game at 1-1. It was just his second even strength goal of the year. Nagtzaam had the other assist. Then, Jones, on a similar play, gave the Lakers a 2-1 lead at the 3:37 mark. Again pinching from the point, Jones took a pass from Bahntge and went top shelf over Madolora's glove hand for his second of the night and eighth of the season. Nagtzaam had the other helper.

The Tigers tried to make a comeback, but Tibbett made three huge saves, all in similar fashion down the stretch. The sophomore, from his stomach, reached up with the glove hand on all three instances and robbed Cameron Burt, Mark Cornacchia, and Garbowsky within  a 60-second span and with under four minutes to play. But, then after a turnover behind the Laker goal, the Tigers' Geoff Smith scored on a wraparound for his second goal of the weekend with 2:03 left in regulation, tying the game at 2-2. Cameron Burt had the lone assist on the game-tying tally.

RIT outshot the Lakers 15-11 in the third period and 4-0 in overtime to win the shots on goal battle for the entire contest 40-36. After a penalty-marred third period on Friday night, Saturday's contest was virtually penalty-free. The Lakers were whistled for one minor, which came 56 seconds into the game. RIT was given two minors for four minutes. Neither team converted on the power play.

The Lakers will return home on Friday night, February 3 to take on the Purple Eagles of Niagara at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Niagara defeated the Lakers 4-3 at the Ice Center in a prior visit  December 10. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.