Complete Box Score

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Entering the final weekend of the regular season, the Mercyhurst men's hockey team controlled its own destiny in the Atlantic Hockey standings for the regular season title or, at the very least, a first-round bye. But, on Friday night, it was the Golden Griffins of Canisius who played spoilers.

Canisius scored two goals 32 seconds apart in the second period and goaltender Dan Morrison made 27 saves as the ninth-place Golden Griffins knocked off the Lakers 2-1 in Buffalo, N.Y. The loss dropped Mercyhurst to 17-14-4 overall and 14-8-4 in conference play, while Canisius improved to 10-19-4 overall and 10-13-3 in conference play.

The two teams played a “feeling out” opening period of action, with neither team generating much in the way of scoring chances. Mercyhurst did have a two-minute power play in the first, but could not solve Canisius netminder Dan Morrison. Mercyhurst goaltender Max Strang had to make a nice save on a rebound attempt with sixty seconds left to keep the game scoreless. Shots on goal favored Mercyhurst in the opening period, 8-5.

The second period, however, was a different story. Canisius scored two goals 32 seconds apart early in the stanza to take a 2-0 lead.

Carl Larsson, parked in front of Strang, redirected a shot from the point by Ben Parker, getting it past the Laker netminder for his third goal of the season at the 2:53 mark. Duncan McKellar had the other assist on the goal. Then, just moments later, with the Golden Griffins on a 2-on-1, Taylor Law took a shot from the left wing that was stopped by Strang. However, a long rebound came free, and Ryan Bohrer knocked it into the net for his first goal of the season at 3:25. Morrison, the Canisius goaltender, had the other assist.

The Lakers had their best chance for a goal at the 7:51 mark. Freshman Ryan Misiak, who was cutting in the back door, had a wide open net to shoot at after Morrison made a stop on junior Paul Chiasson. But, Morrison, well out of position, came out of nowhere to rob the Laker rookie with the glove hand.

Mercyhurst settled down towards the end of the period, but headed to the dressing room down 2-0 after 40 minutes. Canisius outshot Mercyhurst 16-8 in the second period.

Strang would keep Mercyhurst in the game at the outset of the third period, making three huge saves within the first five-and-a-half minutes. Strang robbed Preston Shupe and Braeden Rigney in succession and then made a heroic on Scott Moser a couple of minutes later.

Freshman Chris Bodo would get Mercyhurst on the board at the 6:50 mark of the third period with his 10th goal of the season. Freshman Matthew Zay picked the pocket of a Canisius defenseman in the neutral zone and then found Bodo down the left wing. Bodo decided to take the shot and tucked it in the short side over the shoulder of Morrison, cutting the Canisius lead to 2-1.

Zay would then have a breakaway nine minutes into the third period, but Morrison just got a piece with his stick to force the shot attempt wide.

Strang would be pulled for an extra attacker with 70 seconds left in regulation, but Mercyhurst could not get the equalizer.

Mercyhurst finished the game 0-for-5 on the power play while the Golden Griffins went 0-for-3 with the man advantage. Strang stopped 25-of-27 Canisius in defeat, as his record fell to 13-12-3 overall on the season. Morrison stopped 27-of-28 and improved to 5-9-2 on the year.

The Lakers will play the final game of the regular season on Saturday night at the Mercyhurst Ice Center for the conclusion of the home-and-home series with Canisius. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.