Game Notes

The Matchup: After opening Atlantic Hockey play last weekend with a split against Sacred Heart, the Bentley hockey team goes back to non-conference play this weekend with a two-game series against Rensselaer of the ECAC at Houston Field House. Both games begin at 7:00 pm and can be watched online at rpitv.org.

Last weekend's split at Sacred Heart saw each team win on the other's home-ice. Bentley won the first game 4-1 but dropped Saturday's home-opener 6-3. Junior forward Andrew Gladiuk led the Bentley offense with three goals.

RPI has yet to open ECAC play, they do so next weekend at home against Union, and are off to a 1-3 start against tough non-conference opponents. They opened at the Icebreaker Tournament in South Bend, Indiana and defeated Notre Dame in the first game 3-2 before dropping the finale to Minnesota 3-0. Last weekend the Engineers were out in the Rocky Mountain state to face the University of Denver for two, and were beaten by scores of 3-0 and 4-1.

Follow the Games: Both games and be watched online at rpitv.org. Additionally, links to live stats and audio of the games will be on Bentleyfalcons.com. In-game updates will also be on Twitter @BentleyFalcons. Furthermore, every Bentley Atlantic Hockey game will be on the newly rebranded AtlanticHockey.TV. Season ($150), monthly ($35) and day ($10) passes are available.

Last Time Out: The Falcons won their AHA opener last Friday 4-1 at Sacred Heart, breaking a streak of four straight games without a win at the Milford Ice Pavilion. After trailing 1-0 after the first period, Bentley erupted for three goals in a span of less than six minutes in the second period. Gladiuk got it started with a goal at 12:48 to tie the game 1-1. Goals Charlie Donners and senior co-captain Alex Kubiak followed. Senior Brett Switzer added an insurance goal late in the third period, and junior goalie Gabe Antoni made 20 saves.

Donners, a sophomore defenseman, netted his second career goal. He scored his first career goal last season in the same building.

One night later in front of a huge crowd at the JAR the Falcons fell to the Pioneers 6-3. SHU led 5-0 after a goal by Zach Sabatini at 6:05 of the second frame. Though Bentley received second period goals from freshman Vincent Russo (the first of his career) and two from Gladiuk to make a 6-3 after two periods, they couldn't complete the comeback in the third.

New Power Play Record: After leading the nation in power play goals last season (16), Gladiuk scored both of his goals on Saturday on the man-advantage. Those were the 21^st and 22^nd power play goals of his career, moving him past Marc Menzione '10 for the most career power play goals in the program's Division I history. The program's all-time record is 26, held by Richard Starck '96.

Gladiuk was named the AHA Co-Player of the Week on Tuesday for his efforts. It's the second time in his career he's earned the AHA's weekly honor. He shared the award with Canisius' Ralph Cuddemi.

Series History: This weekend will mark the fifth and sixth all-time meetings between the two programs, with the Engineers leading 3-1. It's the first meeting since the 2010-11 season, a 3-0 RPI win. Bentley's win came in the 2008-09 season, 4-3 in overtime on a goal by Jeff Gumaer '09.

The Falcons have already played Quinnipiac from the ECAC this season, and will play another later in the year, Harvard for the third straight season on Nov. 21.

Up Next: The Falcons take on a Big Ten opponent next weekend in Penn State for the first ever meetings between the two schools. The series gets underway on Thursday, Oct. 30 and concludes one night later at the Pegula Ice Arena.

After that, Bentley returns home to restart Atlantic Hockey play with a two game series against Niagara beginning Friday, Nov. 7. That kicks off a stretch of six home games in four weeks.