Casey Laflamme was the last-minute hero for Fairfield Friday, scoring the game-tying goal with eight seconds left in regulation as the Stags and the Canisius Golden Griffs skated to a 4-4 tie at the Buffalo State Sports Arena in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action.
The Griffs are now 4-3-2 overall and 3-2-2 in the MAAC, while Fairfield is 2-8-1 and 1-5-1 in MAAC play.
Fairfield jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal by Rae Metz 3:24 into the game. The Griffs would knot the game on the power play at the 5:06 mark as Fred Coccimiglio scored his sixth of the year to even the score at 1-1. The goal was Coccimiglio’s team-high fourth power-play goal.
Canisius grabbed the 2-1 lead 4:20 into the second period on a power-play goal by Brad Kenny.
The Stags rallied with a pair of goals to close the second period with a 3-2 advantage. Blaise Silka evened the game at 2-2 with a goal at the 9:15 mark and Nick Stead gave the Stags the 3-2 lead with 4:25 remaining in the period.
Canisius tied the game again just 4:30 into the final period as Mark Persick scored his first collegiate goal. Coccimiglio scored his second of the game at the 10:56 mark to give the Griffs the 4-3 lead, setting up Laflamme power-play heroics.
Each team managed two shots in the overtime period, but to no avail.
Sean Weaver stopped 22 shots for the Griffs, while Fairfield’s Craig Schnappinger turned away 19 shots for the Stags.
Canisius and Fairfield meet again on Saturday evening.
