The Gustavus men’s hockey team bounced back from a sluggish offensive performance on Friday night to score five power play goals as part of an 8-1 win at Concordia on Saturday afternoon to salvage a series split with the Cobbers. Forward Ross Ring-Jarvi recorded two goals and an assist to lead the Gusties with three points, while goaltender Matt Lopes turned in a solid performance between the pipes stopping 35 of the 36 shots he faced. Gustavus improved its overall mark to 14-9-0 and 9-5-0 in the league standings. Concordia ended the season at 3-20-2 overall and 1-13-2 in the MIAC.
Brad Wieck put the Gusties on the scoreboard 4:13 into the game on the first power play opportunity of the contest for his sixth goal of the season. Ross Ring-Jarvi and David Martinson were credited with assists on the goal. Ten minutes later, Gustavus took a two-goal lead when Eric Bigham got a shot past Cobber goaltender Joe Duncan, which prompted a change between the pipes for Concordia. Gustavus goaltender Matt Lopes preserved the 2-0 score after stopping 14 shots in the first 20 minutes.
Head Coach Brett Petersen’s squad went ahead 4-0 at the end of the second period after Ring-Jarvi and Tony Palma registered unassisted goals during the frame. The Gusties would put the game away with four goals in the third period though as Rory Dynan started the scoring with a goal at the 3:45 mark. Gustavus scored three goals in a three-minute span midway through as Ring-Jarvi and Dynan added their second goals of the game followed by Ryan Noonan, who tallied his first goal of the season. The Cobbers avoided the shutout when Alec Holen scored a power play goal with 4:42 left in the contest.
The Gustie power play unit was effective during the game as it generated five goals for the first time this season. Matt Lopes picked up his seventh win of the season as he compiled 35 saves, while allowing the lone goal. Joe Duncan made 13 saves and gave up two goals in the first period before Mike Persson entered the game. Persson stopped 31 shots and allowed six goals.
Gustavus wraps up the regular season next weekend with a home-home series against Hamline beginning on Friday night in St. Paul at 7:15 p.m. The Gusties play their last home game of the regular season on Saturday at Don Roberts Ice Rink with the puck dropping at 7:05 p.m.