Last weekend, the Buffalo State men’s hockey team clinched a playoff berth. On Friday night, the Bengals took another step forward clinching a home playoff game with a 4-3 win over the Red Dragons in Cortland.

The win also keeps Buffalo State in the hunt for a first round bye in the SUNYAC playoffs.

After going back and forth in the game’s first 10 minutes, the Bengals put up two quick goals. Stephan Kelly made a great pass from along the boards to Mac Wood to open the scoring. A little over a minute later Nick Berst converted on a Darren Young pass from behind the net to put Buffalo State up 2-0.

The Red Dragons came right back and responded with two quick goals of their own. Aidan Salerno took a big slap shot from the top of the faceoff circle that went by Buff State goalie Mike DeLaVergne. Just 30 seconds later, Andrew Gleason took a shot from the point and Andrew McCann tipped it in to tie the game.

In the second period, the Bengals controlled the puck and generated a bunch of opportunities but Cortland goaltender Dave Weigman stood on his head to keep the game tied.

Buffalo State outshot the Red Dragons 18-8 in the second period.

Early in the third, the Bengals finally broke through as Zach Remers backhanded the puck in after Colin O’Connor got it to the front of the net. O’Connor created another chance and Jonathan Colley knocked it home to give the Bengals the 4-2 lead.

Nick Berst went to the box for the third time in the game with nine minutes left in the game. Buff State kept attacking as Taylor Pryce had a breakaway chance on the penalty kill.

The Bengals killed off all six of their penalties on Friday night.

Yet, Cortland never backed down. The Red Dragons pulled their goalie and the gamble paid off. Sean Perichak scored to bring Cortland within one.

Buffalo State won the faceoff in their own end with six seconds to go hold off the Red Dragons.

In other SUNYAC action…

Oswego defeated Fredonia to clinch the top seed in the conference tournament. The Blue Devils are now locked at the No. 5 seed. The Fredonia loss, combined with the Buffalo State win, clinches at least a home playoff game for the Bengals.

Plattsburgh defeated Geneseo, 1-0. The Cardinals take a two-point lead in race for the No. 2 seed. Both the Knights and the Bengals still have a shot at the No. 2 seed and the first-round bye that comes with it.

Brockport beat Potsdam, 8-3. The Golden Eagles have a one-point lead over Cortland for the No. 6 seed.

If Brockport beats Plattsburgh on Saturday and Geneseo ties or losses to Fredonia, then the Bengals get the No. 2 seed with a win against the Lakers.

Face off will be at 7 p.m. Saturday at Oswego for the Bengals’ regular season finale.