Box Score

ERIE, Pa. - Redshirt junior goaltender Jordan Tibbett saved his best start of the season in, arguably, the biggest game of the year for the Mercyhurst University men's hockey team.

Tibbett turned aside 32 shots and sophomore Kyle Cook scored the game-tying goal with 9:09 left in the third period as the Lakers skated to a 2-2 overtime tie against Bentley University on Friday night in front of nearly 1,200 fans at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. With the stalemate, Mercyhurst maintained a two-point lead over the Falcons in the Atlantic Hockey Association standings. The Lakers moved to 14-10-5 overall and 12-2-4 in conference play. Bentley moved to 13-8-4 overall and 11-3-4 in the league standings.

It was Mercyhurst's third tie in its last five games (1-1-3) and was the team's fourth tie in its last five home games (0-1-4). With nine games left in the regular season, the Lakers will finish the weekend series with Bentley in no worse than a tie for first place in the standings. Game two takes place on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.

Playing without the services of junior goaltender Jimmy Sarjeant for the series, head coach Rick Gotkin turned to Tibbett, who started the season as the team's #1 goaltender. The Indianapolis, Indiana native, however, never got on track and lost the starting gig to Sarjeant. But, Tibbett, making his first start since December 29 at Ohio State, has proved he is capable in big-game situations after leading the Lakers to the Atlantic Hockey Association title game a year ago.

Friday was no different.

Against the league's top offense, Tibbett made a number of huge saves in a scoreless first period that saw Bentley outshoot the Lakers 15-6. His most significant save came early in the period when he slid over to make a sprawling glove save on Bentley's leading scorer, Brett Gensler, leaving the Falcon forward in disbelief.

The game remained scoreless until junior forward Zac Frischmon gave the Lakers a 1-0 lead at the 3:41 mark of the second period with his fifth goal of the season. Frischmon collected a pass from senior Nick Jones inside the Lakers' zone and skated coast-to-coast, weaving his way through traffic, splitting two defenders, and flipping a forehand over the glove of Bentley goaltender Branden Komm. The highlight reel goal was Frischmon's first since scoring a pair against Niagara on November 19. Senior Randy Cure had the other helper.

Tibbett kept Bentley off of the scoreboard until freshman Max French picked the pocket of a Laker inside the Mercyhurst zone and beat Tibbett on a breakaway at the 15:56 mark of the second period. It was the rookie's eighth goal of the season.

Shots were even at eight apiece in the middle period.

Gensler got revenge on Tibbett just 35 seconds into the third period, sliding a rebound just under the outstretched glove of the Laker netminder for his 17th goal of the season. Alex Grieve and Steve Weinstein had the assists.

But Cook, who has had a knack for late-game heroics with the Lakers, fired a rebound past Komm for his fifth goal of the season at the 10:51 mark to knot the game at 2-2. Junior Nardo Nagtzaam, playing for the first time since November 30, took the initial shot on Komm that was turned aside. However, the long rebound came right to the stick of Cook who one-timed it past the Falcon netminder. Freshman Kyle Dutra had the other assist.

Cook has seven career goals with the Lakers - two have been game-winners and Friday was his first career game-tying goal.

Neither team could break the tie over the final nine minutes of regulation and five minutes of overtime.

Mercyhurst held an 11-9 shot advantage in the third period and a 5-2 edge in shots during the overtime. However, Bentley held the edge for the contest, 34-30. Tibbett moved to 0-6-1 on the season with his 32-save performance. Komm moved to 13-7-4 with his 28-save performance.

Both teams were 0-for-2 on the power play.

The Lakers and Falcons will square off again on Saturday night in front of, what is expected to be, a sellout crowd at the Mercyhurst Ice Center with the Stanley Cup making a visit to Erie. Viewing of the Cup will open to the general public beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Student Union and then the Cup will move up to the Ice Center for Saturday night's contest. Mercyhurst athletic trainer and equipment manager Mike Folga, who was the head equipment manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup-winning New York Rangers, will have an opportunity to hoist the Cup prior to the game's opening faceoff. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.