The Middlebury men's ice hockey team trailed 2-0 against SUNY Canton after two periods but battled back with five-unanswered goals in the final stanza for a 5-2 triumph over the Roos on the opening night of the Boston Landing Collegiate Invitational.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Panthers came out of the gates quickly with five shots in the first 50 seconds of the initial period with the best chance coming when Wyatt Pastor ripped a shot that Roo goalie Kelson Hooper saved.
• After a Middlebury penalty, the Panthers nearly scored shorthanded when Jack Silverman lifted a backhanded bid that Hooper denied with his right pad with 3:06 expired.
• SUNY Canton collected the loose puck, taking a 1-0 edge just 12 seconds later when Reilly McKinnon wristed a shot through traffic and past Middlebury goalie Andrew Heinze.
• The Roos nearly doubled their advantage with 8:46 elapsed on an attempt by Samuel Moshurchak from the left circle that was saved by the blocker of Heinze.
• The Panthers earned a power-play opportunity at the 12:47 mark. Middlebury looked for the equalizer, but the knob of Hooper's stick saved a one-timer by Ryan Pineault.
• In the closing seconds of the frame, Dante Palombo lifted a backhanded shot that Hooper sprawled out across his crease and thwarted the chance.
• SUNY Canton fired three shots in quick succession nearly five minutes into the second period, but Heinze stood his ground and saved all three chances.
• Palombo rifled a bid from the right side that Hooper made a reactionary save on the left post at the 12:55 mark.
• Cory Liu increased the lead for the Roos with 16:28 expired, muscling his way in the slot and finding space in the right side of the net past Heinze's shoulder for a 2-0 advantage.
• Andrew Seaman rushed into the zone, blasting a shot that Hooper denied with 54 seconds left to keep it a two-goal difference.
• Middlebury earned a five-minute power-play chance to start the third period, cutting the deficit to one (2-1) with 2:35 expired when Revy Mack collected a rebound and guided the puck into the right portion of the net.
• The Panthers knotted the contest 4:09 later when Seaman skated up the right side, sending a shot over Hooper's glove for a 2-2 score.
• Middlebury took the lead with two goals 38 seconds apart. Jack Silverman gave the Panthers a one-goal edge with a wrist shot from the left point that whistled past Hooper, while Jackson Morehouse skated in two-on-one and went bar down for a 4-2 lead with 5:17 remaining.
• The Roos called their timeout and pulled Hooper with 3:56 remaining, but Morehouse added an empty-net goal 54 seconds later for a 5-2 final score.

NOTES

• Bobby May posted a career-high two assists during the triumph, including the primary helper on the game-winning goal.
• Mack finished with career marks in points (three) with a goal and two assists.
• The programs squared off for just the third time and the first meeting since 2016-17. 

The Panthers wrap up their weekend in Boston when they play in the BLCI Championship game at 2:40 p.m. on Sunday against Salem State. The Vikings defeated host Nichols in the day's first game by a 4-3 score in overtime.