THE LEAD
It could be a historic weekend for 19th-ranked Robert Morris University, as it chases its first regular-season conference title in 11 years of Division I hockey. RMU leads the rest of the Atlantic Hockey pack by seven points with four games to play. The Colonials can clinch the AHC’s top spot by gaining two points in its final four games, or if Mercyhurst and Bentley fail to earn two points each over that same span.
ABOUT ROBERT MORRIS
– The Colonials carry a nation-best eight-game unbeaten streak (7-0-1) into the series, one shy of matching the program record set twice before. RMU went nine games without a loss (7-0-2) to start its current season.
– RMU has already matched its previous best for wins in a season, set first in 2012-13. Over the past five seasons, the Colonials have the 13th-best winning percentage (.576) among 59 D-I teams and the best in the AHC.
– The Colonials are 8-1-3 as the visiting team, the second-best road record in the nation to Michigan Tech (11-1-1). RMU has won four in a row away from home and sports a five-game unbeaten run (4-0-1) on the road.
– This will be RMU’s first trip to the new Polisseni Center, but the Colonials have good memories in Rochester, as they won their first AHC postseason championship last March at Blue Cross Arena.
MATCHING UP WITH R.I.T.
– After losing twice in Pittsburgh earlier this season, the Tigers will get a second chance at RMU on their home ice. RIT is 1-1-2 all-time against the Colonials in Rochester, although all those games were at their former home of Ritter Arena.
– This weekend’s series features four of Atlantic Hockey’s top five scorers, with RIT senior Matt Garbowsky leading the way at 40 points (21g) and junior Josh Mitchell (26a) third with 36. RMU linemates Cody Wydo (39 points) and Zac Lynch (35) are second and fifth in the league.
– Much like the RMU goalie tandem of Terry Shafer and Dalton Izyk, RIT’s Jordan Ruby (16 starts) and Mike Rotolo (13) have shared time nearly evenly. The senior Ruby has the better save percentage (.920) and goals-against average (2.14).
– The Tigers are middle-of-the-pack in most teamwide categories, but their penalty killing stands out. RIT has allowed just 15 goals in 140 power-play chances, good for a 89.3 percent success rate that ranks fifth in the nation and first in the AHC.
