Box Score MILFORD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart men's hockey team scored with just 17 seconds left in overtime to beat the Niagara Purple Eagles 2-1 Sunday night at the Milford Ice Pavilion.
Sacred Heart (7-10-2, 6-7-1 AHC) started strong again, scoring just 12 seconds into the first period. After winning the opening faceoff, Justin Danforth knocked a deflected shot by Evan Jasper past Niagara goalie Jackson Teichroeb for a quick 1-0 lead. The second period was a defensive struggle as neither team cracked the scoreboard. The Pioneers' Brett Magnus recorded 28 saves through two periods.
Niagara (3-13-2, 3-8-1 AHC) was finally able to break through 22 seconds into the third period when Albin Karlsson gathered a deflected shot off Magnus and found the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. In overtime, a tie looked like a certainty until Jordan Minello intercepted a pass at the blue line and fed Danforth, who blasted a shot by Teichroeb for the game-winning breakaway goal.
For the game, both teams were 0-for-4 on the power play. Niagara outshot Sacred Heart 40-32. In a physical game, the two teams combined for 12 penalties. The Pioneers' win marked the first time ever Sacred Heart swept Niagara in a two-game series.
Sacred Heart returns to the ice Friday, January 8 at Army West Point. Faceoff is 7:05 p.m. at Tate Rink.
FIRST PERIOD
- With 8:45 remaining. Zach De Concilys' wrist shot from the right circle was kicked aside by Teichroeb.
- Zach Luczyk's hard slap shot on the power play was deflected high with 1:16 left.
- With Jasper's assist, he now has at least one point in six straight games.
SECOND PERIOD
- With 14:32 left, Magnus' strong pad save kept Niagara off the scoreboard.
- Sacred Heart was 0-for-1 on the power play in the period. Niagara was 0-for-2.
THIRD PERIOD
- Jackson Barliant's hard shot from the right circle was turned aside by a nice stick save with 14:41 remaining.
- Magnus had 10 saves in the period.
OVERTIME
- Danforth's goal was his team-leading 8th of the season.
