PITTSBURGH– After a disappointing 0-2 start in their season-opening series against Michigan Tech (2-1, 0-1 WCHA), the Robert Morris men’s hockey team (1-2, 1-0 AHA) was back in action against the Bentley Falcons (0-1, 0-1 AHA). Justin Kapelmaster made 35 saves and Nick Prkusic scored a self-record two goals to guide the Colonials to a 3-0 shutout win; their first in Atlantic Hockey play, and their first win of the young season.

Early in the first, the game was physical for both sides, with both teams trying to instill their will on the other. For the majority of the period, the Colonials were hemmed in their own end, and it showed on the scoreboard, with the attempted shots at the end of the period 27-10 in favor of the Falcons. The Colonials weren’t afraid to sacrifice the body however, blocking nine shots in the frame.

Bentley’s attacking mindset wasn’t lost on Nick Prkusic, who after the game said, “We knew they were going to come hard, both my two years we knocked them out of the playoffs. We’re building a good rivalry against them, another good one tonight.”

However, it was the Colonials who struck first, and it was late into the period. With less than five seconds left, and on the power play, Grant Hebert gave a spinning backhand pass to Luke Lynch, and then Hebert put the rebound past Aidan Pelino with 4.7 seconds left.

At the end of one period, the Colonials led the Falcons 1-0. Robert Morris had two penalties in the period, Bradley Stonnell went for tripping 3:23 into the game, and goalscorer Grant Hebert went with just under three minutes remaining in the period. However, it was Bentley whose penalty cost them as Matt Riggleman’s slashing call at 1:06 was the catalyst for Hebert’s power-play goal.

In the second, it was a scary situation for the Colonials midway through the period when Bentley captain Ryner Gorowsky made contact with the head of Grant Hebert. After a few minutes of being helped by the trainer, Hebert was helped off the ice by Nick Prkusic and Justin Addamo. Gorowsky was given a game misconduct and a five-minute major, but RMU was unable to capitalize.

At the end of the period, the Colonials maintained their one-goal lead, and despite their five-minute major, the Colonials were outshot 13-5 in the period, to bring the two-period total to 25-10 in favor of the Falcons. The Colonials only had one penalty in the frame, an interference call to Garrett Clegg eight minutes into the period.

Early in the third, Nick Prkusic added an insurance marker for the Colonials as he roofed a backhander past Aidan Pelino to make it 2-0 RMU.

Justin Kapelmaster was called on for the Colonials midway through the third, and he answered the call; making two great saves on a partial breakaway – one on Jake Kauppila and one on Connor Brassard to keep his shutout intact. Kapelmaster once again was given a chance to preserve the shutout, and capitalized, diving back into his crease to cover the puck after it popped up into the air.

Prkusic added yet another for the Colonials late in the third on the powerplay, beating Pelino on a wraparound for his first career two-goal game with the Colonials.

At the final buzzer, the Colonials were able to defeat the Falcons 3-0 thanks to a 35-save performance by Justin Kapelmaster. On his efforts in the game, the Ferris State transfer said “I thought the team in front of me played well. They [Bentley] had a couple breakaways, a couple backdoor passes, but it’s all about staying calm. To get that second one early [in the third] was crucial for us.”

Kapelmaster’s performance also drew compliments from head coach Derek Schooley, who said, “I think Justin Kapelmaster played excellent.” Coach Schooley, when asked what his team had done differently, added, “[We] scored goals. Three goals last week would have won, two goals last week would have won in regulation.”

Robert Morris looks to sweep the Falcons tomorrow at Colonials Arena. Puck drop for the game is at 5:05.