By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
BLAINE, Minn. —  When they played 5-on-5, the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's hockey team battled Gustavus to a 1-1 deadlock.
 
The problem was, the Gusties took advantage of six power-play opportunities — scoring a pair of goals in those six changes — in dealing the Cardinals a 3-1 nonconference setback Friday during the opening day of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Hockey Showcase at the Schwan's Super Rink.
 
"I thought we played well," said Saint Mary's coach Bill Moore. "But you can't give a team like Gustavus as many power-play opportunities as we did — and (the Gusties) made us pay for it."
 
After a scoreless first period, the Gusties broke the ice with the only goal of the second period — a power-play tally by Brenden Payne 3:26 into the middle frame.
 
Saint Mary's pulled even at 1:19 of the third period on a goal from Tommy Stang (Mendota Heights, Minn.), off assists from Kyle Meeh (Fenton, Mo.) and Nick Nast (Oxnard, Calif.).
 
Gustavus, however, took the lead for good on an unassisted goal by Caleb Anderson at 14:05 of the third period, and sealed the win with their second- power-play goal of the evening — an empty-netter off the stick of Nick Kisko with 50 seconds remaining .
 
Along with recording his first collegiate assist, Nast also finished with 35 saves in goal for the Cardinals, while Gustavus goalie Chris Amsden made 15 saves between the pipes for the Gusties.
 
The Cardinals (0-1-0 overall) return to action Saturday evening, returning to the Schwan's Super Rink in Blaine, Minn., for a 7 p.m. matchup against Concordia.