Closing Seconds Goal Lifts Army Over Canisius

Friday, November 29

Buffalo, NY

1:05 PM

Army West Point

9-4-0, 7-4-0AHA

Canisius

2-9-0, 1-4-0AHA

Army

Canisius

Closing Seconds Goal Lifts Army Over Canisius

November 29, 2019 | Hockey

Box Score

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Army West Point hockey pulled off a dramatic, 4-3, victory over Atlantic Hockey rival Canisius at Key Bank Arena on Friday.

With Army up 2-0 entering the third period, Canisius scored three unanswered in the first ten minutes of the period to take at 3-2 lead. Army would not be denied in this one, scoring twice in the final ten minutes, with the game winner coming from sophomore Eric Butte with just three seconds to go in regulation.

With 7:44 remaining in the period, Zach Evancho sent the puck on net and a frantic scrum ensued. Senior Michael Wilson surged towards the net and poked the loose puck home to even the game at 3-3. The game seemed destined for overtime when with 10 seconds remaining, Evancho stole the puck at the Canisius blue line and sent it into the zone. Wilson retrieved it in the corner and sent the puck towards the slot where he found a driving Butte who buried the game winning goal in the final seconds.

The Black Knights offense was on the attack from the start, outshooting the Golden Griffins 31-20 in the contest.

The Black Knights scored twice in the opening period to get the game going. The first came with just under eight minutes in the first, when Buffalo native Zach Evancho ripped a slap shot from the right point that was deflected on goal by Dominic Franco.

Minutes later, Evancho got on the scoreboard himself with some help from the boards. The senior sent a puck up the ice from deep in the Army zone. The dump ricocheted off the end boards and hit off the Canisius goaltender's skate and rolled into the net to give Army a 2-0 lead that they would carry into the third period.

The Black Knights have now won five of their past six contests as they continue to climb the Atlantic Hockey standings. Army will take on Canisius in the second half of their Thanksgiving weekend series on Saturday at 1:05 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Penalties were the story in the first period, with the teams combining for six violations in the opening frame.
Army was able to jump out in front with 7:51 remaining in the period when off the face off with the teams playing 4-on-4, Alex Wilkinson fed Zach Evancho from the point and the senior ripped a slapshot that was redirected by Dominic Franco in front of the net to beat the goaltender.
The Black Knights caught a huge break in the closing moments of the period. With 1:15 to go, Zach Evancho sent the puck down the ice from deep in his own zone, the puck ricocheted off the boards and off the skate of goaltender Matt Ladd into the net to give Army a 2-0 lead.
Cody Fleckenstein and Michael Wilson were credited with assists on the cross-ice tally.
The Cadets outshot Canisius 13-2 in the first 20.
Trevin Kozlowski faced his first real threat with 10:48 in the 2nd period. The Black Knights turned over the puck deep in their own zone setting up a wide-open look for the Golden Griffins. But the junior stood his ground and made a big glove save.
Canisius finally broke through in the opening minutes of the third when Grant Meyer broke loose for a breakway and beat Kozlowski through the five-hole to cut the Army lead to 2-1.
The Griffins again converted minutes later on a 4-on-3 power play to tie the game at 2-2.
The Black Knights got themselves into more penalty trouble as Canisius again converted on the power play, this time on a 5-on-3 advantage to take a 3-2 lead.
With 7:44 to go, Army stopped the bleeding as Michael Wilson was able to fight through a scrum to poke a loose puck past the goaltender and tie the game.
With the game heading into the final seconds, Canisius appeared to be headed for a final rush before overtime when Zach Evancho stole the puck at the enemy blue line.
Evancho sent the puck behind the net for one last chance in regulation. Michael Wilson received the puck and sent a desperation pass to the slot. He found an open Eric Butte who converted the game winner with three seconds to go in the contest.

HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES:

Senior captain and Buffalo native Zach Evancho set a career high with 4 points (1-3-4) in the contest.
Franco's first period goal was his second of the year and tied him with John Zimmerman and Evancho with a team-leading 10 points on the season.
The senior has recorded a point in four consecutive games with five points across that span (2-3-5).
Evancho extended his goal streak to three games, becoming the first Cadet to score in three consecutive contests this season.
Canisius opened the second period with its third different goalie of the contest. Starter Jacob Barczewski left halfway through the first period with injury.
The teams combined for 15 penalties in the game (Army 9, Canisius 6).

UP NEXT: Army will face-off with Canisius in the second half of the series on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. ET.