Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
14-18-4
Canisius College (Game Two)
16-17-3
Hockey Outlasts Canisius for 1-0 Overtime Victory in Game Two of AHA Quarterfinals to Extend Season
March 05, 2023 | Hockey
BUFFALO, NY – Army West Point hockey (14-18-4, 12-12-2 AHA) secured a 1-0 overtime victory over Canisius (16-17-3, 13-10-3 AHA) in game two of the Atlantic Hockey Quarterfinals to even the series at 1-1.
Brett Abdelnour scored the overtime winner for the Black Knights 6:17 into the fourth frame. Gavin Abric made 23 saves in net for his second shutout of the season as Army forces a decisive game three tomorrow at 5:00 p.m.
Returning for game two, both teams struggled to puck puts on net early. Canisius put the puck into the back of the net just over eight minutes in, but the goal was called off for goaltender interference. Army took the only penalty of the period soon after but was able to kill of the extra-man opportunity. Canisius had seemingly scored with under ten seconds left in the period as well, but the goal was waved off again to send us into the break scoreless. Army held the Golden Griffins to just two shots on goal through twenty minutes.
The second period saw more of the same defensive stinginess. Army's top line found itself defending in its own end for long stretch just over midway through the period, with Abric making a flurry of saves to aid the effort. Joey Baez eventually got the puck clear to Ricky Lyle who ended up getting a shot on goal after the clear. Army had its best spell towards the end of the period, eventually peppering Barczewski with 16 shots in the period. The teams went into the second intermission with the scoreline still tied.
Army had the lone power-play opportunity of the third, with Canisius having the two best chances over the two-minute stretch. Stefano Bottini was in clean on a breakaway shorthanded which saw him hit pipe. The puck found its way back to Bottini just seconds later as Abric was forced into his most vital save of the night. Each team eight shots on goal in the period, as sixty minutes was not enough to decide a winner.
Canisius had the best chance early in overtime, with Abric making a stop on Bottini. Just over six minutes into overtime, Noah Wilson kept the puck in the corner before feeding Patrick Smyth behind the net. Smyth then passed over to Abdelnour at the point, who fired in a wrist-shot to extend the series and Army's season. Abric made 23 saves in total as Army collected its first victory in an overtime elimination game in the Atlantic Hockey era.
?? Brett Abdelnour's overtime goal to force a game three!#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/y8RsAjmoxg
— Army Hockey (@ArmyWP_Hockey) March 5, 2023
Coach's Corner
?? @Coach_BRiley on tonight's overtime victory to force a decisive game three tomorrow#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/bJksABrrRM
— Army Hockey (@ArmyWP_Hockey) March 5, 2023
The Black Knights will return for game three tomorrow at 5:00 p.m., with the winner advancing to the Atlantic Hockey semifinals.
