SLU hockey completes road sweep
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Kyle Essery put St. Lawrence University in front with a power-play goal early in the third period, freshman Tommy Thompson added an insurance goal in the final four minutes and the Saints battled their way out of a three-goal hole for a 5-3 ECAC Hockey win over host Brown University on Saturday and a sweep of their ECAC road series.
The Saints (10-5-3 overall, 6-9-1 league) leapfrogged Brown (8-11-3, 5-8-2) in the standings and are in a tie with Princeton for 10th, just two points out of eighth.
Brown scored three goals on the same major power play late in the first period, but SLU battled back with three goals in the second period and put the game away with the two-goal third. The Saints scored as many goals against Brown goalie Mike Clemente on Saturday as they had in Clemente’s four prior starts against the Saints.
“That was a tremendous character win for us,” said Saint associate head coach Mike Hurlbut. “With our past history in this building and the way the first period ended, we could have packed it in. It was a big weekend for us.”
The Saints played an even first period against the Bears until a five-minute major and game misconduct was called against sophomore forward Sean Logue at the 15-minute, 27-second mark of the period. Brown converted three times on the major in the final 3:17 to put the Saints in a deep hole.
Ryan Jacobson scored his second of the year against the Saints on a tip of a shot from the point by defenseman Richie Crowley at 16:43. Jack Maclellan then scored twice in the final three minutes, getting his 12th of the year at 17:05 and his 13th after Saint goalie Matt Weninger was knocked down in the crease and tried to cover the puck with his glove. Weninger failed to hold it long enough to draw the whistle.
The Saints scored two goals a minute apart midway through the second period and then got the tying goal with 2:38 to go in the second.
Gunnar Hughes put the Saints on the board with his third of the year at 9:45. Kyle Flanagan then pulled the Saints within one with his 11th of the year at 10:45.
The Saints completed the comeback at 17:22 when Hughes put a hard shot on goal that Clemente kicked out, but Jeremy Wick put home the rebound for his first of the season.
SLU took the lead just six seconds into their third power-play chance. Jordan Dewey put a quick shot on goal off Essery’s faceoff win. Clemente kicked that one out, but Essery backhanded the rebound into the net at 4:27 to give the Saints a 4-3 lead. SLU iced it at 16:36 when Tommy Thompson scored his second of the year.
