BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Robert Morris University men's ice hockey team fell behind early, rallied but Canisius picked up a, 5-4, win Thursday at the Buffalo State Ice Arena.
The Colonials (15-9-4, 10-7-4) trailed 3-0 at the first intermission but rallied to enter the third period tied at three. The Golden Griffins (9-12-6, 8-7-5) picked two third period goals from Cory Conacher to earn a 5-4 win. Denny Urban (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Ohio Blue Jackets) lead the Colonials offensively with three assists matching a career high in for assists and points.
Cory Conacher gave Canisius early lead with a first period goal at the 2:48 mark of the first period. Ryan Bohrer moved the lead to two with his fifth goal of the season at the 15:47 mark of the first frame. Scott Moser stretched the Golden Griffins lead to three with a goal at 17:30 of the period. Following the goal by Moser, Robert Morris switched goalies with Brooks Ostergard (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Bay State Breakers) replacing Eric Levine (Wheeling, Ill. / Pembroke Lumber Kings).
The Colonials returned from the first intermission with a renewed energy and quickly established a more physical presence. The tougher play paid off for Robert Morris when Colin South (Sewickley, Pa. / Bay State Breakers) cut the Canisius lead to two with his fourth goal of the season at the 12:47 mark of the second period. The Robert Morris rallied continued as Adam Brace (Cobden, Ontario / Canisius College) netted his eighth goal of the season. After a pair of penalties accessed to Robert Morris, the Colonials killed off the 5-on-3 advantage and following Longpre's return Ron Cramer (New Wilmington, Pa. / Indiana Ice) took the ice. The junior forward picked up a pass near center ice and netted his second short-handed goal of the season, to even the score at three.
Robert Morris rode its wave of second period momentum and took the lead with a third period goal from Josh Jones (Scenery Hill, Pa. / Hawkesbury Hawks). The advantage was short lived for the Colonials as Conacher tied the game at four 21 seconds later. Conacher helped the Golden Griffins retake the lead at the 10:27 mark of the third period completing hat trick and sending Canisius to the win.
The Colonials returns to action against Canisius Saturday at the Island Sports Center, the game can be heard live on RMUColonials.com and on Pittsburgh Penguins HD radio.
Game Notes
- Nathan Longpre extended his point streak to eight games Thursday. The senior assistant captain has a point in 15 of his last 16 games with six multi-point games during the streak.
- Denny Urban tied career highs for points and assists Thursday passing out three assists.
- Cory Conacher became the first player to record a hat trick against Robert Morris since Tyler Scofield of Bemidji State found the net three times, march 7, 2009.
- Ron Cramer's second-period shorthanded goal is the first for the Colonials since Cramer scored down a man Oct. 15, 2010 against Ohio State on the road.
- The Colonials surrendered seven third-period goals in the first 14 games this season and outscored their opponents 21-7 in the third period in the first 14 games. In the last 14 games, Robert Morris has been outscored 9-16 in the third period including allowing six third period goals in their last three games.
- Robert Morris did not allow a power-play goal for the first time in five consecutive games. Colin South's second period power-play goal was the first power play goal for the Colonials in four games and just the second for RMU in the last nine games.
