Long Island Sharks — Canisius Golden Griffins: 3:2, NCAA

Long-Ayland Sharks edged Canisius Golden Griffins 3:2 in their NCAA meeting on Saturday evening. The hosts saw out a hard-fought victory after a closely contested contest at their home rink. It was a result that turned the tables on yesterday's outcome, when the visitors took the points.

The two sides had met just the previous day, with Canisius prevailing 3:2 in that encounter. To be fair, both teams showed similar intensity tonight, though the Sharks found a way to convert their chances when it mattered. By then the pattern was familiar — end-to-end play with neither side willing to settle.

We had tipped the home side to win at 51 per cent confidence, and the prediction held up. The Sharks have not won since their mid-March fixtures, and this victory ended that barren spell. It was the kind of result that comes from staying compact and punishing mistakes.

In the standings the picture remains unusual, with both clubs sitting on zero points despite having played 26 and 29 games respectively. The hosts occupy fourth place while Canisius sit fifth, but the table says little about what has actually happened on the ice. The gap between them is measured in games played rather than points.

The result means the Sharks have turned it on at the right moment, while the visitors will make life awkward for themselves going forward. One mistake ends it in these tight fixtures, and tonight Canisius paid the price for a moment's lapse.