Cards Host Bears in Regular Season Home Finale

The regular season is winding down, only one home game left and one huge road trip to go. Plattsburgh needs to win 2 of its final 3 to clinch the SUNYAC conference regular season championship. However, the Cardinals must take care of business Saturday night if they hope to win the overall championship. Saturday night the Potsdam Bears invade the Stafford Ice Arena as the make a push for the number 3 seed in the SUNYAC playoffs.

Potsdam currently sits in forth place tied with Cortland, and just 2 points behind Brockport for third. The Bears enter this weekend at 7-10-5 overall, 4-5-4 in the SUNYAC. On paper this looks to be a game that they are out matched and should be beaten easily; but that’s why they play the game! Earlier in the season, Potsdam jumped out to a 4-1 lead before the middle of the third period. Plattsburgh would have to battle back for 3 goals late in the period in order to force a tie and escape the Bears den with a point.

Potsdam is lead upfront by junior forward Connor Treacy (17-18-35), junior forward Luke Beck (2-24-26) and sophomore forward Frasier Smith (14-9-23). Smith is tied for the team lead in power play goals (6) with Anthony Proteau, Treacy is right behind them with 5 of his own. Backstopping the Bears in net has been freshman Trevor O’Neil who is 3-7-2 with a .855 save percentage and 4.19 goals against average. Backing up O’Neil is sophomore Rick Miller who is 2-2-2 with a .879 save percentage and 3.58 goals against average.

Potsdam is averaging 4.27 goals per game while giving up 4.05; they are averaging 7.5 penalties per game for 17.8 minutes. Their opponents are taking 8.0 penalties for 21.1 minutes.

Plattsburgh State enters the weekend the number one seed in the SUNYAC and the unanimous number one ranked team according to the latest USCHO.com poll. The Cardinals are 19-1-2 overall and 12-0-1 in the SUNYAC, their only tie is to Saturday nights opponent Potsdam.

Sophomore forward Dylan Clarke (13-19-32) leads the team in points. He is followed by senior forward Joey Wilson (19-12-31) and junior forward Phil Farrow (9-21-30). Wilson leads the team with 8 power play goals. Nick Rolls (4-18-22) collected his 100th career point this past weekend and became just the 8th defenseman and 45th overall Cardinal skater to reach this milestone.

Standing his ground between the pipes for the Cardinals has been Bryan Hince. Hince is now 17-1-2 on the season with a .927 save percentage and 1.79 goals against average. In his almost 2 year career here at Plattsburgh Hince is 39-6-2. Backing up Hince is senior net minder Chris Molinaro. Molinaro is 2-0-0 on the season with a .923 save percentage and 1.51 goals against average. Matt Dickson who has battled a high ankle sprain has yet to see action on the season.

Plattsburgh is averaging 4.68 goals per game while giving up just 1.82. Plattsburgh is currently the least penalized team in the country averaging just 5 penalties per game for 10.3; while their opponents are averaging 7.7 penalties per game for 17.8 minutes.

Look for Plattsburgh to try and establish themselves early in the game and take control; if they allow Potsdam to hang around they may be in for more than they are bargaining for. Plattsburgh must keep Potsdam’s big line at bay and off the score sheet as much as possible and they must get after the Bears goalie early and often.

Prediction
Plattsburgh 5
Potsdam 3

Till next week from Oswego/Cortland, be safe and BE LOUD!

Jim