Box Score  | GameDay Preview

BLAINE, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University men's hockey team unveiled its high-octane offense Saturday evening in a 7-2 rout of Bethel in their season-opening game at the MIAC Men's Hockey Showcase.

That same high-octane offense was on display at Fogerty Arena in Sunday's game against Saint John's.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, it was the Johnnies' turn this time around, as SJU erupted for five goals in the second period en route to an 8-1 victory over SMU.

"I'm very disappoinated with the way we played today," said SMU coach Bill Moore. "But we also can't forget how well we played on Saturday. I would have loved to start the season 2-0, but for us to head into next weekend 1-1 gives us the opportunity to expand on the good and fix the mistakes."

The Johnnies, who failed to score a goal in falling to Bethel 3-0 in their first game of the season on Friday, scored the only goal of the first period on a Phil Johnson power play goal with 3:48 remaining.

Joe Herren pushed the lead to 2-0 three minutes into the second period — and the floodgates opened, as Michael Palmiscno would make it 3-0 and John Haeg followed with three straight tallies to make it 6-0 head into the third period.

After two more SJU goals made it 8-0, the Cardinals finally broke through on the power play with 2:44 remaining in regulation, as Bobby Thompson (Centerville, Minn.) took a feed from Joey Van Antwerp (Farmington Hills, Mich.) and rifled shot over the glove of SJU goalie Saxton Soley for his second goal of the season.

Thompson's goal, however, was the only thing special about the Cardinals' special teams, as SMU went just 1-for-9 with the man advantage — including three 5-on-3 situations. SJU, meanwhile, was 3-for-4 on the power play.

The Cardinals (1-1-0 Overall) return to action on Friday, when they open their home schedule with a 7:30 p.m. nonconference game against UW-Superior at the SMU Ice Arena. SMU then hosts St. Scholastica on Saturday, also at 7:30 p.m.