POTSDAM, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey clinched the fourth seed and home ice in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNAYC) playoffs first-round game with a 4-1 win over Potsdam in their regular season finale. Sophomore Vlad Pshenichnikov (Moscow, Russia/Utica) tallied two goals to lead the Cardinal offensive attack.

Pshenichnikov scored the game's opening goal on the power play and then recorded an empty netter to seal the win late in the third period. First-years Tyler Ramm (Westborough, Mass./Northeast Generals) and Patrick Cole (Lancaster, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) each tallied goals, with Ramm registering the game-winner. Kevin Weaver-Vitale (Toronto, Ontario/Markham Royals) tallied two assists, as Cole also added an assist to give both players multi-point outings. Jacob Hearne (Ennismore, Ontario/Toronto Jr. Canadiens) made 21 saves in net for his 14^th win of the season.

Plattsburgh State notched a power play goal in the first period for their ninth special teams goal in their last six games, as they went 1-2 on the advantage, holding the Bears to 0-3. The Cards also outshot Potsdam 31-22 on the night.

The Cardinals improve to 14-10-1 (8-6-0 SUNYAC) with the win while Potsdam falls to 8-13-4 (6-7-1 SUNYAC). The two teams will meet again on Wednesday, Feb. 26 in a SUNYAC First Round matchup in the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.

Plattsburgh wasted little time getting on the board on Friday night, as an early power play chance saw Pshenichnikov hammer home a one-timer from the left face-off circle. Weaver-Vitale earned the primary assist on the goal just 3:56 into the game, while Cole earned the secondary.

The Cards held the 1-0 lead for nearly nine minutes, but Jeremy Quesnel tied the game at a goal apiece at the 12:34 mark of the period, a score that would into the first intermission.

Plattsburgh State was able to grab the lead back quickly in the second period, as Ramm notched a goal for the fourth straight game and his seventh in six games to put his team up 4:06 into the period. Jake Sacratini (Montreal, Quebec/AIC) forced a Potsdam turnover as they looked to exit the defensive zone, stealing the puck away from a Bear before skating inside the left face-off circle. The junior forward whiffed on a shot attempt and then passed off to Ramm who was skating down the slot with his defender behind him. Ramm unloaded on a one-timer just outside the crease and beat John Werber stick side for the lead.

The 2-1 Plattsburgh lead held into the third period, as they killed two penalties to hold the advantage. Shortly after the second penalty expired in the third period, Cole gave the Cards a two-goal cushion with his ninth goal of the season and fourth in five games 1:37 into the third stanza. Simon Singher (Beloeil, Quebec/Navan Grads) ripped a shot from the point that went wide of the backboards and caromed back to Cole on the doorstep. The first-year forward then shoveled the puck right in front of the goal over Werber's shoulder, putting his team on top, 3-1. Blake Hall (Fort Erie, Ontario/Fort Erie Meteors) earned the secondary assist on the play, while Singher earned the primary. 

Plattsburgh State played strong defensively throughout the rest of the period, led by Hearne's nine third-stanza saves, as they stifled the Bear's attack.

With the goalie out for Potsdam with just over a minute-and-a-half left in the game, a faceoff win for Plattsburgh by Jake Lanyi (North Salem, N.Y./Connecticut Jr. Rangers) went to Wevaer-Vitale who found Pshenihcnikov heading into the neutral zone. The Moscow native then skated across the midline to avoid the icing call and sent the puck down the ice into the empty net for his second goal of the game, sealing the Plattsburgh win.

Werber made 27 saves on the night, allowing three goals in just under 59 minutes of play.