Cards Prevail in Physical Affair

CardinalHockey.Net The days of Buffalo State being a doormat team in the SUNYAC are over. Nick Carriere has put together a solid team who plays a physical and hard working brand of hockey. If the Bengals have a major weakness, it is their team discipline. Buffalo was whistled for 34 minutes of penalties in the contest. Plattsburgh’s two power-play goals proved to be the difference in the game.

The Cards would open the scoring at 4:45 of the first period with Eric Greene’s first goal of the season. Eric initial shot was blocked by a Bengals player. However, the puck came right back to Eric and he sent his second shot past Buffalo’s Zach Grasley.

Buffalo’s Jim Durham would score at 13:45 to tie the game 1-1 after one period of play.

Senior defensemen Nick Rolls gave the Cards a 2-1 lead with his goal of the season. That lead would not last long, as 2008 SUNYAC Rookie of the Year Nick Petriello beat Bryan Hince to tie the contest just 22 seconds later.

Ryan Corry would give the Cards the lead for good at 13:29 of the second period. The goal was the Cards second power-play goal of the period, and third goal scored by a defensemen. In fact, the Cardinal defense accounted for 5 of the 8 points the team scored on the night.

Penalty trouble limited Buffalo’s chance in the third. Buffalo pulled Zack Grasley with under two minutes to go in attempt to get the equalizer. Dylan Clarke was able pick off a Buffalo pass and bury an empty net goal to close out the scoring in the contest.

Plattsburgh out shot Buffalo 44 to 28 in the contest.

Bryan Hince turned aside 26 shots in the contest making some timely saves along the way.

Despite the loss, Zach Grasley had an outstanding game for Buffalo. He stopped 40 of the 43 shots he faced and was named third star for the game.

With the 4-2 win, the Cards improve to 3-0-0 overall and 2-0-0 in SUNYAC.

Plattsburgh will now begin a six game road trip, starting with Morrisville State next Saturday night.

Box Score:
First Period:
1-0 4:45 - PSU - Eric Greene(Eric Satim) ES 1-1 13:45 - BUF - Jim Durham (Shareff Lebreche) ES

Second Period:
2-1 10:20 - PSU - Nick Rolls (Ryan Corry, Joey Wilson) PPG
2-2 10:44 - BUF - Nick Petriello (Kevin Kozlowski, Jason Hill) ES
3-2 13:29 - PSU - Ryan Corry (Nick Rolls) PPG GWG

Third Period:
4-2 18:58 - PSU - Dylan Clarke (Unassisted) ENG

Shots on Goal:
Plattsburgh 44
Buffalo 28

Plattsburgh Goaltending
Bryan Hince (W, 3-0-0) 26 saves

Buffalo Goaltending
Zach Grasley (L, 1-4-0) 40 saves

Three Stars of the Game:
First Star: Ryan Corry (Plattsburgh)
Second Star: Nick Rolls (Plattsburgh)
Third Star: Zach Grasley (Buffalo)

Update: Ward Smith was released from CVPH last night and was at the game tonight. We look forward to seeing Ward back on the ice soon!