Can you say playoffs? Cards to host back-to-back postseason games

BY COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Sports Editor

Plattsburgh Cardinal playoff hockey is back. Both the men’s and women’s teams are top-two seeded teams for the first time since the women’s team joined the NEWHL and will host playoff games at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.

Men

The No. 7 men’s team (18-52, SUNYAC 12-3-1) most recently beat the Morrisville Mustangs (817, SUNYAC 4-12) 5-3 Jan. 15. The win ends the regular season on a two-game win streak and an overwhelmingly positive record against conference opponents.

MBB & WBB

The win is Plattsburgh’s second against Morrisville this season, after winning 4-3 Dec. 10, 2022.

Forward Carson Gallagher scored an individual season-high two goals, aided by additional scores from forwards Brendan Young and Adam Tretowicz and defenseman Jacob Modry. Forward Thomas Maia and Modry tallied two assists. Modry and Gallagher had three points each.

“I think the momentum from the Morrisville game is definitely going to transfer over,” Gallagher said. “I think we have a better group to do it than last year.”

Plattsburgh’s starting goalie, first-year Eli Shiller, saved 22 of 25 shots in his direction, good for a 0.940 save percentage. Shiller leads the team in save percentage with 0.940 on the season. His three goals allowed is tied for his most all season, matching his three allowed in the game against Morrisville in December 2022, but he still earned the win in both games.

“It’s a really good team, from top to bottom. We have every guy stepping up and taking new roles,” Modry said. “We have an amazing goaltender in Eli, and he’s been kind of our backbone this year.”

The Cardinals hold the number two seed, the highest ever under Head Coach Steve Moffat. Plattsburgh will bypass the first round of the SUNYAC Tournament, play-