Bengals score record eight power-play goals, rout Morrisville state, 12-3.

It was a wild game at the Ice Arena as Buffalo State defeated Morrisville State (3-16-1, 2-9-1 SUNYAC) on Saturday by a score of 12-3.

The 12 goals were a season high for the Bengals (10-8-2, 6-4-1 SUNYAC) as the team showcased its dominance over the Mustangs for a second time this season. Buffalo State won the first matchup between the two teams, 7-2, on Nov. 5.

"Everything clicked on Saturday and after we got up by a few goals, (Morrisville) just decided to do whatever they wanted and didn't stay disciplined," said senior forward Justin Knee. "Overall, I thought we played very well."

Penalty trouble plagued Morrisville State throughout the game as 23 trips to the penalty box led to a school-record of eight power-play goals for the Bengals. Of those 23 penalties, four of them were game misconducts, resulting in four Mustang players receiving ejections.

"We had a feeling that it could turn into that style of game," said coach Nick Carriere. "The last time we played them, it was similar. A lot of stuff after the whistle, a lot of stick penalties and slashes and dirty stuff . . . that's unacceptable."

Senior forward and team captain James Durham agreed.

"They don't have too much class, to say the least," he said. "They really showed that tonight. We knew that if we played our game, good things would happen, and we took advantage of their penalties. We kept our cool and stayed out of the box."

Multiple Buffalo State players found their names on the scoresheet by the end of the night. Junior forward Drew Klin led the team in points with five assists, while Durham (two goals, two assists) and sophomore defenseman John Corrigan (one goal, three assists) had four points apiece.

Junior forward Matt Bessing and sophomore forward Mac Balson each notched two goals and one assist, while freshmen Nick Melligan and Tyler Nelson both had one goal and two assists. Junior forward Trevor McKinney also chipped in with one goal and one assist while sophomore forward Taylor McGraw added three assists and sophomore forwards Mike Connolly and Shane Avery lit the lamp with a goal each.

The eye-popping statistics weren't the only reason for the game's significance. It was the last home game of the regular season for the Bengals, which meant it was the last regular-season home game in the collegiate careers of Durham and Knee.

"Knee has been here for three years, and he's one of the smarter hockey players I've ever coached," said Carriere. "His hockey IQ is leaps and bounds over a lot of guys . . . (Durham's) been our captain the last few years. He's a hard-working, lunch bucket type of guy, and he's great in the community and on campus. We're going to be looking at some pretty big holes to fill when those two guys leave."

Despite all of the sentimental feelings produced by the game's result, the Bengals realize that their season isn't over yet. They are focused on making a playoff push starting on Friday, when the team kicks off a five-game road trip by traveling to Potsdam and wrapping up the weekend with a visit to Plattsburgh on Saturday.

"It's payback time for us against Potsdam," said Carriere. "We overlooked them when they came here earlier in the year. They played an excellent game and put us on our heels. We need to get pucks on net and play a physical style, and we should take care of business."

Knee said he's taking it one game at a time.

"Plattsburgh and Potsdam are really good and they always work hard, so those are going to be two tough games, especially in their barns," he said. "We need to win every game from here on out, so we need to play as if every game is a playoff game. We can't lose any more games."

Tony Fiorello can be reached at fiorello.record@live.com.