Saints go with the flow

CANTON — It was one of those nights for the first line of the St. Lawrence University men's hockey team.

Passes went tape to tape on the sticks, bounces caromed the Saints' way, and the scoring chances were countless. Yet forwards Casey Parenteau, Kevin DeVergilio and Mike McKenzie couldn't quite define their explosive play in SLU's 5-1 win over Clarkson on Saturday night at Appleton Arena.

Parenteau netted a pair of goals in the game's first six minutes. DeVergilio and McKenzie were relentless in St. Lawrence's offensive end, stout defensively and finished with three assists apiece. They helped shepherd the Saints to their decisive victory.

"It's hard to explain for people who've never played, but it's like everything is going and all the cyclinders are going," McKenzie said. "Pucks are bouncing to you, and you're getting breaks. Everything was going our way."

It's easy to look at the statistics and be amazed by St. Lawrence's 33-7 shot advantage over Clarkson through two periods. But the Saints generated quality chances and created synergy through their lines. It started at the top.

McKenzie slipped a simple drop pass to Parenteau, who buried a wrist shot past Golden Knights goalie Paul Karpowich nearly three minutes into the game. Parenteau scored again on an easier rebound almost three minutes later, after shots from McKenzie and DeVergilio were saved.

DeVergilio and McKenzie also assisted on Shawn Fensel's power-play goal early in the second period to make it 4-0. Euphoria set in, and the Saints never looked back.

"They move the puck well, pretty creative players, all of them," St. Lawrence coach Joe Marsh said. "I thought they reloaded well off the forecheck and forced a lot of turnovers. They are playing off each other very well."

The offensively talented triumvirate was formed after senior forward Brock McBride went down with a high ankle sprain against Massachusetts in November. Marsh said he put the trio together out of necessity for a scoring punch. The move proved its worth Saturday.

"We're being very unselfish," DeVergilio said. "I think that's one thing that's really helping us out. We're moving the puck great and taking our shots."

The linemates were one lead pass, a late whistle and a few missed shots away from widening St. Lawrence's convincing lead. They played as if they didn't want the game to end. And they hope this isn't the final offensive outburst of the season.

"It's like we're on the same wavelength," Parenteau said. "Me and DeVo talked about that. We're just trying to ride the wave."

TISI GETS A WIN

Kain Tisi couldn't remember the last time he started a game in goal for the Saints and came away with a victory.

Tisi won't forget Saturday. The junior from Mississauga, Ontario, made 13 saves to earn his first win of the season for St. Lawrence. It's his first victory as a starter since Dec. 2, 2006, when SLU won at Yale.

"I thought I didn't have anything to do with this win," Tisi said. "The team did a great job going from start to finish. I made saves when I had to, but at times, they were unbelievable."

Despite making just three starts this season, Marsh said Tisi earned the nod Saturday after making 17 saves and allowing zero goals in two periods of relief last weekend at Vermont.

"Five periods and he's only given up one goal on the power play," Marsh said. "You can't knock him for that. I thought his positioning was good. He just looked sharp."

MARSH MOVES UP

With St. Lawrence's win, Marsh grabbed sole possession of 20th place all time in career Division I coaching victories with 424. He passed the University of Maine's Shawn Walsh, who had 423 wins from 1985-2001.

Ahead of Marsh on the all-time list is New Hampshire head coach Dick Umile. He earned his 434th career win when the Wildcats edged UMass, 3-2 in overtime, on Saturday.