ST. CLOUD, Minn. — When it came to the Saint Mary's University men's hockey team's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference two-game series against Saint John's, home was most definitely sweet.
Which was great news for the Cardinals on Thursday, when they collected a 5-3 win over the Johnnies at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena — and not such good news when the series shifted to the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center on Saturday.
The Johnnies followed the same "home team wins" script in the teams' rematch, jumping out to an early 2-0 lead and holding off any threats Saint Mary's possessed in dealing the visiting Cardinals a 4-2 setback..
After 15 minutes of scoreless hockey, the Cardinals suddenly found themselves staring at a 2-0 deficit, as SJU's Lewis Crosby and Justin Thompson each scored in the final 4:09 of the opening period to give the Johnnies a two-goal edge heading into the first intermission.
Silenced in the first period, Saint Mary's finally got its offense on track, as
Bud Winter (St. Louis, Mo.) scored for the third straight game, taking a feed from
Colin Tushie (Prior Lake, Minn.) and beating SJU goalie Jon Howe at the 5:04 mark of the second period.
The better-late-than-never Johnnies responded with 2:08 to play in the middle frame on a goal by Conner Couet, once again giving SJU a two-goal cushion heading into the locker room after two periods.
As was the case to open the second period, the Cardinals would once again cut the deficit to a single goal early in the third period — this time on a goal by
Jackson Nauss (Maple Plain, Minn.) 2:21 into the final frame.
And, just like the second period, the Johnnies would answer on a goal by Mason Campbell to give SJU a 4-2 lead — a lead the Johnnies would no relinquish in earning the conference split.
A.J. Ruskowski (Traverse City, Mich.) — who stopped a season-high 41 shots in Thursday's 5-3 SMU win — finished with 32 saves, while Howe kicked out 26 of the Cardinals' 28 shots on gaol
The Cardinals (5-6-1 MIAC, 7-12-2 overall) are back in action next weekend, when they return home to the Saint Mary's Ice Arena for a pair of conference games against nationally ranked St. Scholastica. SMU and CSS will square off at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, with Saturday's rematch taking place at 2:05 p.m.
