Box Score Boxscore

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Nichols scored three times on nine power play opportunities en route to a 4-1 victory Saturday over Western New England in Eastern College Athletic Conference Northeast men's hockey action at Smead Rink at Blunt Park. The Bison improve to 12-7 overall and 5-3 in the ECAC Northeast, while the Golden Bears fall to 7-12 on the season and 4-4 in the league.

After the teams skated to a scoreless first period, Western New England began the second on a good note by getting on the scoreboard first just 2 minutes and 4 seconds in. Freshman Chris Lembo notched his fourth tally of the season with the Golden Bears on the power play, as junior co-captain John Kelly and sophomore Andrew Cramer were credited with assists on the play.

But the visitors tied it about 4 minutes later with a power play goal of their own when Kyle Shapiro netted his fifth. Alex Lewis scored a shorthanded goal, his first of the season, at the 14:24 mark for what proved to be the game-winning goal to wrap up the scoring in the middle stanza.

The Bison sealed the win with a pair of power play goals in the third period.

Western New England outshot NC 37 to 33, including a 19-9 margin in the second period. Alex Larson made 36 saves in the Bison goal while sophomore Tim Carr stopped 29 shots for the Golden Bears.