PITTSBURGH -- The Robert Morris University men's hockey team entered their first weekend of Atlantic Hockey play aiming to improve their finishing, get their special teams clicking and, yeah, earn that first victory.

Call it a clean sweep in that regard, because the Colonials achieved all three of those goals in a 3-0 blanking of rival Bentley on Friday night at the RMU Island Sports Center.

Senior transfer goalie Justin Kapelmaster continued his good early impression, denying all 35 Falcons shots for his fifth career NCAA shutout. Junior co-captain Nick Prkusic put up his first two-goal game as a Colonial, providing more than enough offensive support to deliver three points in the AHA standings.
 
"We didn't play our best in the first two periods, but we found ways to win each period," head coach Derek Schooley said. "We capitalized on our opportunities and Kapelmaster was outstanding. Good first impression for him; even better second impression."

Schooley refers to Kapelmaster's first RMU start last Saturday, as the veteran of 50 NCAA games stopped 29 in an overtime home loss to Michigan Tech. The former Ferris State netminder was just as good Friday, including consecutive point-blank saves on Charlie Marchand and Michael Zuffante midway through the third with RMU leading 2-0.

"It's all about staying calm," said Kapelmaster, a native Floridian. "To get that second (goal) was big. I've played a lot of college hockey. The more goals, the easier it is to settle in. That's what gave me the confidence to finish it off in the end."

🗣"I just wanted to start well. It's all about staying calm and collected."

Senior transfer @jpkappy talks about a strong first two @RMU games, managing the pressure of the position and fitting in with his new team! pic.twitter.com/k9GBOfGsZv

— RMU Men's Hockey (@RMUMHockey) October 12, 2019

Kapelmaster made 25 of his saves in the first two periods, as the Colonials (1-2-0) tried to locate their five-on-five legs. A greasy, rebound power-play goal by sophomore center Grant Hebert with five seconds left in the first had staked RMU to a lead, but the Falcons had wide advantages in shots (12-5) and attempts (27-10) after their first period of the season.

Ironically, RMU finally got its cylinders pumping after coming up empty on a five-minute advantage midway through the second period, with Bentley's Ryner Gorowsky sent to the dressing room for a hit to Hebert's head. Hebert was helped off the ice and did not return after the incident.

The Colonials started to turn up the physicality from there, including a rough-and-tumble shift by Prkusic. After the intermission, the hard work paid off when Prkusic whacked in the leftovers of defenseman Nick Jenny's point shot at 2:22. Freshman Garrett Clegg earned the secondary assist, his first college point.

"Our third period was our best period," Prkusic said. "That was key. We needed a little bit of a momentum swing. Just tried to have a good, physical shift."

🗣"I think I was just working closer to the net. Wanted to get into the dirty areas."

Junior co-captain Nick Prkusic explains his first two-goal game as a Colonial, weathering an early ⛈ and getting physical late to take control! pic.twitter.com/ohVtOdsdGp

— RMU Men's Hockey (@RMUMHockey) October 12, 2019

One final RMU penalty kill set the table for Prkusic's capper, during the Colonials' fifth power play. Taking an exchange from Daniel Mantenuto behind the net, Prkusic used his long reach to wrap the puck around the right post and past Bentley goalie Aidan Pelino with 2:17 remaining.

After conceding five special-teams goals (four power play, one short-handed) to Michigan Tech last weekend, the Colonials started their first AHA series of the season with two PPGs and four solid PKs. Also, they converted three times on 16 shots after scoring just once on 60 shots in the opening series.

"We have a good amount of skill," Schooley reiterated. "We have to make sure we make plays and do a better job around the net. We had some open looks, but we took too long or we got them blocked."

Saturday's rematch at 5:05 p.m. figures to be just as hotly-contested. Coming off a second-place finish last regular season, Bentley (0-1-0) has now lost three straight to RMU, starting with the final two games of last spring's quarterfinal playoff series.

But if Kapelmaster gets a third start in four games and the Colonials keep up their positive trajectory, the Falcons will be challenged to come out of Pittsburgh with a split.

"I worked really hard in the offseason to get to where I am," Kapelmaster said. "I'm very comfortable here. I played a lot of hockey (at Ferris State), but needed a change of scenery. I love the coaching staff and everyone's really close. I'm really happy here."

Early returns indicate the feeling is mutual.