It had only happened three times prior in the history of the rivalry, but the Oswego State men’s ice hockey team and SUNY Plattsburgh played to a 2-2 tie on Friday night at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.
Both teams traded goals over the first two periods, but neither team was able to record the game-winning goal in the final 20 minutes of regulation or the five minutes in overtime, as the Lakers and Cardinals tied for the first time since Dec. 2, 2006, which also took place in Plattsburgh.
Oswego State (7-1-2 overall, 5-0-2 SUNYAC) junior forward and assistant captain Jon Whitelaw scored the game’s first goal at 9:16 of the first period. Junior forwards Paul Rodrigues and Luke Moodie were credited with assists on the play. The goal was Whitelaw’s fifth in his career against the Cardinals. Oswego State held a 1-0 lead going into the first period intermission.
The Cardinals (5-2-2 overall, 5-1-1 SUNYAC) responded early in the second period, as Paul Puglisi tied the game at 1:15 of the second frame. Puglisi’s goal was unassisted.
Oswego State junior forward Chris Ayotte helped the Lakers recapture the lead at 6:06 of the second period. Ayotte’s third goal of the season and first career goal against Plattsburgh was assisted by junior forward Matt Singleton and sophomore forward David Titanic.
Plattsburgh again was able to tie the game up, this time on Alex Jensen’s goal at 7:21 of the second period. Patrick Jobb assisted on the game-tying goal.
After being outshot 25-16 over the first two periods, the Cardinals recorded 18 shots to Oswego State’s nine in the third period. Despite outshooting the Lakers by a 2-to-1 margin in the third period, Oswego State junior goaltender Andrew Hare kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard, and Plattsburgh goaltender Mathieu Cadieux did the same to send the game into overtime.
The overtime period featured just five shots combined, but the Lakers had an opportunity to tally the game-winner when Plattsburgh’s Brandon Beadow was called for holding early in the extra time. However, the Lakers managed just one shot on goal with the extra skater. Both teams recorded one shot in the final two minutes of overtime.
The Lakers kept Plattsburgh’s first two lines in check, holding them to just one assist and a combined -2 +/- rating. It was a defenseman and a fourth-line forward that provided the offense for the Cardinals. Oswego State got its offensive production from its first and fourth lines, as they both recorded a goal and two assists. However, the Lakers’ second line finished with a -7 +/- rating, as Hank Van Boxmeer and Taylor Farris were on the ice for both Plattsburgh goals.
Both teams had very similar statistics, as the Cardinals narrowly outshot Oswego State, 37-36. The Lakers committed just one penalty all game, while the Cardinals committed just two. Neither team had a power-play goal.
Hare finished the game with 33 saves, while Cadieux finished with 32 for the Cardinals.
The two rivals will meet again on Friday, Feb. 17, at the Campus Center Ice Arena.
The Lakers will travel to SUNY Potsdam on Saturday, Dec. 3, to face the Bears to close out the first half of SUNYAC play.
