PLATTSBURGH — The Plattsburgh State men’s hockey team picked up four more important points in the SUNYAC standings over the weekend.
But the biggest excitement was saved for the finish of Saturday afternoon’s game against Fredonia at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.
The Cardinals (12-10, 8-7), who skated to a 3-0 victory over Buffalo State the night before, got a goal from Quinn Tavares with 10 seconds left in overtime to record a dramatic 4-3 decision over Fredonia and avoid what could have been a disappointing outcome to the game.
It was Plattsburgh’s second overtime win over the Blue Devils this season, and its fifth overtime game in conference play, who have won all five of them.
SATURDAY
PLATTSBURGH 4
FREDONIA 3, OT
It was looking good for the Cardinals after taking a 3-1 lead at the end of two periods.
But Luke Morris pulled Fredonia back to within a goal just 43 seconds into the third, and the Blue Devils forced overtime, after pulling their goalie, on a goal by Owen Cross with just 33 seconds left in regulation.
“Our plan going into the third period was to keep our foot on the pedal,” Plattsburgh State head coach Steve Moffat said. “But then they scored 43 seconds in, and things changed real quickly. They were a shot away with 19 minutes left in the game.
“Their tying goal came on another bad play by us, like on their goal early in the third. We had two players thinking more about the open net than playing defense.”
That set the stage for a wild 3-on-3 overtime with both teams having chances until Tavares decided it.
“We went in on a 2-on-1 with two players, Tavares and (Jake) Sacratini, who we would want in that situation,” Moffat said. “Their goalie was aggressive all game, and he came out on the play but couldn’t get to the other side of the net quick enough when Tavares came around the net to score.
“It was great to score. There’s nothing like having that feeling to win in overtime. It’s amazing.”
Gabriel Filion gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead just 21 seconds into the game.
Mathieu Fournier pulled the Blue Devils even with 8:51 gone in the second, but Plattsburgh responded quickly when Colin Callanan scored a highlight-reel goal at 10:52 and then Shane Bondy at 16:14.
Beau Lane picked up the win in the Plattsburgh nets with 28 saves, and Charles-Anthony Barbeau was a standout in the Fredonia nets as he stopped 49 of 53 shots he had come his way.
Plattsburgh defenseman Lonan Bulger picked up four assists on the weekend, two in each game.
“We were able to get the four points and take care of business,” Moffat said. “The coaches in the league say how hard Fredonia plays.”
What also helped the Cardinals was having only a combined five penalties on the weekend, three against Buffalo State.
“We mentioned that on Friday in the Buffalo State game,” Moffat said. “We’re a better team when we play like that.”
Next up for the Cardinals is a huge SUNYAC game Friday at 7 p.m. at the Stafford Ice Arena against Skidmore, a team Plattsburgh is still chasing in the standings.
FRIDAY
PLATTSBURGH 3
BUFFALO STATE 0
Lane was solid in net once again as he turned away all 32 shots he faced while recording his second shutout in a row.
The Cardinals held a 2-0 lead after one period when Felix-Antoine Parenteau scored a power-play goal at 14:38 and then Patrick Cole an even-strength goal at 16:30.
Riley Sutherland closed out the game’s scoring with 4:12 remaining in regulation.
Marcus Cumberworth played well in the Buffalo State nets, stopping 35 of 38 shots.
“Some people will say a two-goal lead is the worst because if the other team scores one, they are only a shot away from tying the game,” Moffat said.
“But we played a really disciplined third period. We didn’t give them a lot of looks and made them go the length of the ice. And it was nice to get that third goal.”
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Friday
Plattsburgh 3, Buffalo State 0
BS;0;0;0;—;0
PSU;2;0;1;—;3
First period- 1, PSU, Parenteau ppg (Tavares, Bulger), 14:38. 2, PSU, Cole (Bulger), 16:30.
Third period- 3, PSU, Sutherland (Catron, Ward), 15:48.
Shots on goal- PSU, 38-32.
Saves- Cumberworth, BS, 35. Lane, PSU, 32.
—
Saturday
Plattsburgh 4, Fredonia 3, OT
FS;0;1;2;0;—;3
PSU;1;2;0;1;—;4
First period- 1, PSU, Filion (Tavares, Bulger), :21.
Second period- 2, FS, Fournier (Gagnon), 8:51. 3, PSU, Callahan (English, Bulger), 10:52. 4, PSU, Bondy (Cole, Butler), 16:14.
Third period- 5, FS, Morris (Cameron, Serino), :43. 6, FS, Cross (Serino, Fournier), 19:27.
Overtime- 7, PSU, Tavares (Sacratini), 4:50.4.
Shots on goal- PSU, 53-31.
Saves- Barbeau, FS, 49. Lane, PSU, 28.