By: Victor Menendez
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- In the last game of the regular season, RIT Tigers men's hockey defeated the Mercyhurst Lakers by a score of 6-3, thanks to two goals from Matthew Wilde.
"Six out of the last eight games we've won, so it's about as good as it's gotten all year," Tigers head coach Wayne Wilson said. "We've got to keep it simple. We've got to have good discipline, staying out of the penalty box, but we've got to get pucks behind defensemen and get strong on our forecheck."
The Tigers got off to a fast start, putting nine shots on the board before Mercyhurst could take their first. However, when the Lakers finally did get one on net, it got past Tigers goalie Ethan David. Winger Will Margel scored his sixth goal of the season to give Mercyhurst an early 1-0 lead.
RIT center Tyler Fukakusa's eighth goal and team-leading 33rd point of the year tied the game at one apiece less than three minutes later. Fukakusa took a pass from Wilde and fired a one-timer past Lakers goalie Simon Bucheler.
Video courtesy of @RITMHKY on X.
The Tigers went on the power play with 8:16 remaining in the period. After getting one shot on goal, RIT defenseman Tristan Allen took an interference penalty, giving us 4-on-4 hockey. After the Lakers penalty expired, they capitalized on the 30-second man-advantage as center Steven Agriogianis scored his eighth goal on the season to put Mercyhurst up one.
With just over a minute remaining in the first, Margel was called for tripping, putting RIT on the power play once again. This time the Tigers cashed in. Wilde fired a wrist shot from the left circle that found the back of the net to give him his team-leading 17th goal of the year, and tie the game at two.
Video courtesy of @RITMHKY on X.
At the end of 20 minutes of play, RIT was outshooting Mercyhurst 12-10.
With 9:43 remaining in the second period, RIT winger Tanner Andrew took a penalty for hitting a Mercyhurst player from behind. On the power play, Lakers defenseman Tyler DesRochers took a wrist shot from just inside the blue line that snuck past David to put the Lakers up one.
It took less than 10 seconds for the Tigers to answer back as defenseman Crossley Stewart took a pass from Wilde at the left circle and found the back of the net to tie the game at three. Wilde and Fukakusa picked up assists on the goal, giving both their third points of the game.
Video courtesy of @RITMHKY on X.
Mercyhurst took a too many men on the ice penalty with just over five minutes remaining in the period. RIT took only two shots during the man-advantage, neither of which were on goal.
The Lakers had a power play chance of their own for the final two minutes of the frame as Tigers defenseman Kevin Scott was called for interference. However, their unit was similarly ineffective as their only shot during the two minutes missed the net wide left.
The Tigers were outshot 12-4 in the second period, but David was able to keep the puck out of the net preserving the 3-3 tie heading into the final frame.
The first-year goaltender was named the AHA Goaltender of the Week last Monday following his first career shutout on Friday, Feb. 14 which saw him make 22 saves in a 3-0 win against the American International Yellow Jackets. Since David began playing more regularly on Feb. 7, he had put up a .931 save percentage in five games coming into tonight.
Making 26 saves and having an .897 save percentage in this game, David improved to 4-3-1 on the season.
"We've played him a lot down the stretch but he's the one that got hot so good for him," Wilson said. "Had another really good game and I think the best thing I like about him is that he's so competitive and that's the big thing for him."
After 10 minutes of good chances from both teams to start the final period, it was Wilde who finally broke through. With 9:33 remaining, Wilde snapped a wrist shot past Bucheler to give him his 18th goal of the season and RIT its first lead of the game.
Video courtesy of @RITMHKY on X.
The Lakers emptied their net with just under 2:30 remaining, giving them an extra skater. However, it didn't take long for Tigers winger Tyler Mahan to force a turnover and shoot the puck into the empty net, putting this game to bed. RIT winger Christian Catalano scored the Tigers sixth goal as Bucheler was going to the bench. Bucheler tried to save it by throwing his stick at the puck, and technically did, but that's not allowed, and it counted as a goal.
With the win, RIT improves to 9-15-2 on the season in conference play. They claim the ninth seed and will face the American International Yellow Jackets on Saturday, Mar. 1 for a single-elimination playoff game in West Springfield, Mass. With the loss, Mercyhurst falls to 4-19-3 in conference play, finishing last in the standings. They'll play at Canisius on Mar. 1.
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