Mercyhurst Game Notes
Bentley Game Notes

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ERIE, Pa. - What more could a hockey fan ask for in a weekend series? A battle for first place in the Atlantic Hockey Association standings and a visit from, arguably, the most recognized and revered trophy in all of professional sports - The Stanley Cup. That is what you'll find at the Mercyhurst Ice Center on Friday and Saturday.

The AHA-leading Mercyhurst University men's hockey team will host second-place Bentley University in a pivotal two-game series beginning on Friday night, Janaury 31, at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The teams will conclude the weekend series on Saturday night, February 1, with Lord Stanley's Cup being in attendance on Saturday night. Both faceoffs are scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

The Lakers (14-10-4, 12-2-3 AHA) enter the weekend series against the Falcons (13-8-3, 11-3-3 AHA) with a two-point lead in the conference standings over their weekend visitors. Mercyhurst split a home-and-home series with longtime-rival Canisius, winning 3-1 in Buffalo on Thursday night before suffering a 7-4 setback in Erie on Saturday. The Golden Griffins have handed Mercyhurst its only two conference losses this season.

Junior forward Matthew Zay was named the Atlantic Hockey Association Player of the Week after scoring one goal and adding four assists in the weekend series. He leads the team, and the conference, with 38 points this season.

Bentley, meanwhile, played one game last weekend and defeated Holy Cross by a 5-3 final.

The Lakers hold a 28-11-6 advantage in the all-time series against the Falcons, but they have gone just 6-6-4 in the last 14 meetings dating back to the 2007-08 campaign. Mercyhurst also holds a significant edge in games played at the Mercyhurst Ice Center, 13-3-4, but just 2-2-2 in the last six contests. Last season, the teams split a series at Bentley - Mercyhurst won in overtime the first night, 4-3, before the Falcons rebounded for a 5-1 win the following night (November 23 and 24, 2012).

The series will feature seven of the league's top ten scorers in 2013-14. Zay leads with 38 points and is getting help from senior Daniel O'Donoghue (11 goals, 23 assists) and junior Ryan Misiak (9 goals, 20 assists). Zay leads the conference while O'Donoghue ranks third and Misiak is tied for seventh. The Falcons feature Brett Gensler, who is second with 35 points, Steve Weinstein (4th - 31 points), Alex Grieve (T-5th - 30 points), and Andrew Gladiuk (9th - 27 points).

The league's top two goaltenders, statistically, are also rostered this weekend. Mercyhurst junior Jimmy Sarjeant leads the Atlantic Hockey Association in the three major categories - goals against average (2.33), save percentage (.932), and winning percentage (.727 - 14-4-4). His save percentage and winning percentage figures are also in the top ten in the country. Meanwhile, Branden Komm will be in goal for Bentley. He sports a 2.36 goals against average, a .928 save percentage, and a .630 winning percentage (13-7-3). Both goaltenders' numbers are even better in conference action - Sarjeant (12-0-3, 1.77, .948) and Komm (11-2-3, 2.20, .928).

Special teams could play a pivotal role in deciding the weekend. Bentley ranks second in the country in power play percentage (28.1%) and is even better against conference opponents (35.4%). Gladiuk is tied for the national lead with 12 power play goals this season. The Falcons also boast a penalty killing unit that has killed off 14 straight opportunities and which is successful 85.5% of the time. Mercyhurst, meanwhile, has a 21.2% power play conversion rate, which goes up to 27.3% against league opponents. The Lakers' penalty kill is a 81.5% overall, but they are tied for the national lead with eight shorthanded goals.

Both faceoffs are scheduled for 7:05 p.m. from the Mercyhurst Ice Center. For more information on the Stanley Cup's visit to Mercyhurst, please read the italicized portion below.

Viewing of the Cup will be open to the general public at the Mercyhurst Student Union from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and then the Cup will find a new home for the night at the Mercyhurst Ice Center during the Lakers' Division I men's hockey game against the Falcons of Bentley University. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Donations will be accepted and all donations generated will go to the Wounded Warrior Project to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.

As an added bonus for the weekend, fans who attend Friday night's game against Bentley will receive a voucher for free admission to attend Saturday's game. Fans with that voucher will also get first chance to see the Cup at the Mercyhurst Ice Center during Saturday's game prior to opening faceoff. Fans without the voucher will have to pay full admission to Saturday's game but will be able to see the Cup during intermissions.

For more information about the events on Saturday, please contact either Preston Reilly, Activities and Spirit Coordinator, at (814) 824-2433 or David Leisering, Sports Information Director, at (814) 824-2525.