TROY, N.Y. – Six different players scored, including junior TJ Walsh, who had a goal and an assist, leading the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team to a 6-2 victory over Canisius College, on Friday night at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Engineers improve to 1-1-1, while the Golden Griffins drop to 1-2-0.

After a scoreless first period in which senior netminder Linden Marshall (Victoria, BC / Trail Smoke Eaters) was forced to make a handful of big stops, the Engineers erupted for four goals in the second period.

Junior TJ Walsh (Shrewsbury, MA / Northeastern University) got the scoring started 4:53 of the frame, snapping home a rebound from right in front of the net for his first RPI tally. Helpers went to senior Kyle Hallbauer (Howell, NJ / Lone Star Brahmas) and graduate student Anthony Baxter (Oakville, ON / UMass Lowell).

A rocket from the blue line from junior Simon Kjellberg (Nashville, TN / Dubuque Fighting Saints) found its way into the top left corner to make it 2-0 at 12:08 of the second, before freshman Lauri Sertti (Espoo, Finland / Amarillo Bulls) gave the hosts a 3-0 lead, just 30 seconds later. Sertti collected the puck in front of the Canisius goal and stuffed it past junior goaltender Jacob Barczewski (O'Fallon, MO / Tri-City Storm) for his first collegiate tally.

Senior Ottoville Leppanen (Espoo, Finland / Espoo Blues U20) netted RPI's fourth goal of the middle stanza at 16:20. Breaking up the left wing boards shorthanded, he made a move, before slipping the puck five-hole on junior Jacob Hawthorne (Chemianus, BC / Alberni Valley Bulldogs) for his first of the season. Sophomore John Beaten (Stittsville, ON / Youngstown Phantoms) was credited the lone assist –the first of his collegiate career.

The Golden Griffins were the beneficiaries of the first three power plays of the third period and eventually capitalized on the third, as junior Keaton Mastrodonato (Powell River, BC / Alberni Valley Bulldogs) was able to clean up a rebound for his third goal of the season. The man advantage tally also drew helpers from classmate David Melaragni (Philadelphia, PA / Cowichan Valley Capitals) and graduate student Austin Alger (Livonia, MI / Muskegon Lumberjacks).

Junior Hudson Lambert (Richmond Hills, ON / Brampton Admirals) then netted his first collegiate goal at 14:35 to pull the visitors to within 4-2. Senior Lee Lapid (Thornhill, ON / Toronto Patriots) and Mastrodonato had the assists on the play.

RPI put the game away with two tallies in the final minute of the game. Sophomore Jakob Lee (Owen Sound, ON / Merrimack College) – playing his first RPI contest – potted an empty-netter at 19:32, before senior captain Ture Linden (Great Falls, VA / Lone Star Brahmas) and Walsh combined for a sixth goal with 19 seconds to play.

Marshall (1-1-1) finished with 23 saves, while Barczewski (1-1-0) turned away 21 over 32:38 of action. Hawthorne stopped 12 in relief.

Canisius wound up 1 for 5 on the power play, while the Engineers were 0 for 2, including a five-minute opportunity, which carried over from the first period to second.

Both teams are back in action tomorrow night for game two of the weekend series. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm.