Colgate Falls to Canisius in Overtime

Brian Day posted a career-high four-point outing versus Canisius

Final Box

BUFFALO, N.Y.(12/20/09) – Jason Weeks scored the game winning goal with 58 seconds left in overtime to propel Canisius to a come-from-behind 7-6 victory over Colgate in a non-conference men's hockey clash, Sunday evening at the Buffalo State Sports Arena.

The Golden Griffins, who improve to 9-9-2 overall, trailed 6-4 late in the third period, however netted two goals in a very short time frame to tie the contest. Colgate had to kill off a penalty in the closing 2:45 of regulation to force overtime.

The outcome overshadowed the performances of Brian Day (Danvers, Mass.), Jeremy Price (Milton, Ont.), and Matt Firman (Fayetteville, N.Y.). Day tallied a career-high four-point evening on a goal and three assists, while both Price and Firman notched their first multi-goal games of their respective collegiate careers. Austin Smith (Dallas, Texas) tied a career-high with four points - all being assists.

Colgate's power play also clicked on all cylinders scoring four times in six opportunities. It was the highest power play goal total in a single game since the Raiders scored six against Canisius in a 9-0 victory on October 24, 2006. Colgate's penalty kill was equally as successful in killing off all five Canisius power play opportunities.

The Raiders, who fell to 7-6-4 overall, capitalized on their first of three man advantages in the opening period. Less than a minute into the power play, Day won the face-off in the offensive zone and 20 seconds later, Price connected for his second goal of the year at 3:55 from Firman and Day.

Canisius knotted the game up at 8:42 as Peter MacDougall cashed in on his second of the campaign from Josh Heidinger. The Golden Griffins went into the first intermission holding a 2-1 advantage as David Cianfrini netted his third of the year from Torrey Lindsay and Dave Kostuch at 17:32.

In the early stages of the second period, Colgate killed off a crucial two-man Golden Griffin advantage.   However, Canisius tallied its third even strength goal of the game at 11:16 as Derek Danowski found the back of the net for the second time this season.

Fifteen seconds after taking a two-goal advantage, Canisius once again found it shorthanded. At 11:49, the Raiders got their second power play goal of the contest and shaved the deficit to 3-2 as Robbie Bourdon (Ile Bizard, Que.) and Thomas Larkin (Cocquio Trevisago, Italy) teamed with Francois Brisebois (Montreal, Que.) and the junior deposited the puck in the cage for his eighth of the year. It was Brisebois' fifth goal in five games.

Not too much later, Colgate received its fifth man advantage of the game and once again made the Golden Griffins pay. Fifteen seconds into a power play, Firman posted his first tally of the year at 14:02 from Wade Poplawski (Winnipeg, Man.) and Smith to knot the game at 3-3.

Colgate took its first lead since the early stages of the first period. The Raiders connected for their fourth power play goal of the evening as Price scored his second of the game at 5:15 from Smith and Day

After the Golden Griffins evened the score at 7:56, it appeared Colgate had everything under control with back-to-back goals by Day and Firman at 11:49 and 13:09 respectively, to give the Raiders a 6-4 advantage. However, Canisius answered with a pair of goals in a 40-second span, including the game tying goal at 16:50 by Heidinger.

Bryan Bessette (Melrose, N.Y.) made his first start of the season between the pipes for the Raiders and stopped 16, while Dan Morrison turned aside 25 in the victory.

Colgate returns to action January 2 as it travels to Chicago to take part in the Shillelagh Tournament. The Raiders will tangle with the host, Notre Dame in the second game of the day. Opening face-off is set for 6:05 central standard in outside the Windy City in Hoffman Heights.

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