Three Power Play Goals Lift Union Past RPI

Troy, NY -- Union scored three power play goals en route to a 4-1 victory and a sweep of the weekend series over archrival RPI at Houston Field House in front of 4,105.

"Our power play really stepped up tonight. We did a better job of getting the puck down low and getting it low to high. That was the one adjustment we made and it worked out well. The guys did a great job of getting traffic in front of the net which allowed the point shots to go in," said Daniel Carr.

"Our power play has been struggling a little bit for what we expect. It's good to get back out there and get some goals in," said Shayne Gostisbehere.

The win was the tenth consecutive victory for the Dutchmen over the Engineers dating back to November 13, 2010. Third year bench boss Rick Bennett is undefeated against RPI as the Union head coach.

"It doesn't get old. Obviously this rivalry is huge. It's the reason you come play college hockey: rivalries like these," said Carr.

After a scoreless first period Union opened up the scoring with two quick power play strikes in the first 5:37 of the second frame. Freshman Eli Lichtenwald tipped in a nice centering feed from defenseman Mat Bodie at the 3:34 mark.

Just over two minutes later Carr zipped a one-timer past RPI goaltender Scott Diebold. Playing the right point position on the power play he connected on another pass from Bodie. Senior Kevin Sullivan, back in the lineup for the first time in four games, picked up the secondary assist on each goal.

RPI senior Brock Higgs scored his second goal of the weekend to cut the Dutchmen lead to 2-1 heading into the second intermission, but that was as close as Seth Appert's club would come to tying the score.

Shayne Gostisbehere struck twice in just over a minute late in the third period to give the Dutchmen a three-goal victory. His first strike was on a wrist shot from the left point, and then he would add a power play tally with a blast from the right point.

With the game out of reach tempers flared and the two teams combined for 151 penalty minutes in the last 3:13 of the contest.

"That's hockey. If you've played hockey before and haven't been in one of those altercations you haven't lived," said Bennett.

"Doing that at the end of the game isn't tough. Tough is doing it when the game is on the line," said Appert.

Not to be lost in the power surge and the melees was the goaltending of Colin Stevens. He wasn't tested often, but he made some key saves to keep Union on the favorable end of the outcome.

"I felt Colin was excellent tonight. We're going to need that, especially through those times when we needed that. When we were sluggish Colin really gave us a boost as well," said Bennett.

Jeff Cox covers college and junior hockey, NCAA recruiting, NHL Draft prospects and the AHL for SBNation. Follow him on twitter @JeffCoxSBNation.