PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Five different players scored goals and senior Ryan Kuhn (Wheatfield, N.Y.) added a pair of assists as the Plattsburgh State hockey team defeated Wentworth Institute of Technology, 5-2, in opening round action of the 2020 W.B. Mason Winter Classic.
THE BASICS:
RECORDS: WIT (4-7-1); PSU (4-6-1)
SHOTS: WIT, 31; PSU, 38
PENALTIES/MINUTES: WIT 6/12 ; PSU 8/16
POWER PLAYS: WIT 1-for-7 ; PSU 3-for-5
GOALIE SAVES: WIT – Thomas Draper, 33 ; PSU – Jimmy Poreda, 29
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The first period looked like it was headed to be a scoreless frame before Plattsburgh scored three times in a span of 2:08 to take a 3-0 lead. Junior Rich McCartney (Hershey, Pa.) got the hosts on the board with an even-strength goal at 17:19, which was followed by a pair of Cardinal power-play goals. Junior Liam Lawson (Vancouver, B.C.) scored at 18:59 while freshman Joe Kile (Troy, Mich.) followed just 28 seconds later. Plattsburgh had a 14-8 shot advantage in the first period.
- At 6:05 of the second period, the Cardinals increased their lead to 4-0, thanks to a goal from freshman Samir Abouelhana (Lake Saint Louis, Mo.). Just under four minutes later, Wentworth cut the lead to 4-1 as junior Jake Hallisey (Quincy, Mass.) netted a power-play goal from seniors Connor Busch (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) and Adam Tracey (Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.) at the 10:01 mark of the period. The Cardinals scored at 16:41 of the frame as freshman Christian Dahl (St. Peter's Mo.) scored on the power play. Kuhn picked up an assist on the goal, his second of the game.
- The Leopards scored the lone goal of the third period. With Plattsburgh on the power play, the deflection of a saved shot came to Tracey, who sent a stretch pass to classmate Nate Chase (Plainfield, Ill.) for the shorthanded goal at 5:03.
- Junior Jimmy Poreda (Tonawanda, N.Y.) picked up the win, making 29 saves. Sophomore Thomas Draper (Binghamton, N.Y.) made 11 saves in each period for 33 on the game. Plattsburgh held a 38-31 shot advantage and was 3-for-5 on the power play.
SERIES NOTES:
- Tonight was the third all-time meeting between the two programs and the first since January 15, 2005. Plattsburgh State now holds a 4-0 series lead.
NEXT UP:
- Wentworth plays Commonwealth Coast Conference foe Endicott tomorrow in the third-place game at 4:00 p.m. The Gulls were defeated by Elmira, 6-5, in today's first game.
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