Rochester, NY. – The Mercyhurst Lakers Men's Ice Hockey team is set to hit the road for a series with the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Tigers.  Both teams are looking to close out the regular season on a strong note, with the Lakers aiming to snap a recent skid and the Tigers seeking to climb in the conference standings. 

History 

RIT leads the all-time series over the Lakers 35-21-6.  The Lakers hold a 9-17-4 record all-time on the road in the series history.  Earlier this season, the teams split their two-game series, with Mercyhurst securing a 4-2 victory in the first game before RIT bounced back with a 4-2 win of their own the following night. 

Laker Outlook 

Mercyhurst (4-24-4, 4-17-3 AHA) enters the weekend looking to rebound after dropping a pair of road games to Holy Cross. The Lakers have struggled defensively this season, allowing 4.3 goals per game, but have shown flashes of offensive production. 

Dustin Geregach leads Mercyhurst in scoring with 21 points (7G, 14A), while Mickey Burns (8G, 11A) and Steven Agriogianis (7G, 12A) provide additional offensive firepower. Goaltender Carter McPhail has spent the most time between the pipes, posting a .909 save percentage while facing an average of 38 shots per game. 

Mercyhurst's power play has converted at 18.2%, while the penalty kill has struggled, operating at 72.5%. 

Scouting RIT 

RIT (8-22-2, 7-15-2 AHA) has also faced a challenging season but remains a dangerous opponent. The Tigers are led by Tyler Fukakusa (7G, 23A, 30 PTS) and Matthew Wilde (16G, 10A, 26 PTS), who have been their primary offensive contributors. Christian Catalano (6G, 14A) adds depth to a team that is averaging 2.3 goals per game. 

In net, Jakub Krbecek has started the majority of games for RIT, holding a .893 save percentage and a 3.90 GAA. Defensively, the Tigers have struggled, allowing 3.9 goals per game, but their 52.1% faceoff win percentage has helped them maintain possession in key situations. 

Keys to the Game 

• Goaltending Battle – With both teams allowing over three goals per game, solid performances from McPhail and Krbecek could be the difference. 

• Special Teams Execution – RIT's power play has converted at 14.9%, while Mercyhurst has been slightly better at 18.2%. Winning the special teams battle will be crucial. 

• Containing Wilde and Fukakusa – The Tigers' top scorers have the ability to take over games, and Mercyhurst's defense will need to limit their opportunities. 

Next Up 

Mercyhurst is locked into a first-round road game in the Atlantic Hockey Postseason on March 1st.  Their opponent is to be determined.