ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s hockey team won its third straight game Friday in a 3-1 decision over Hamline. Isaak Tjaden (Jr., Northfield, Minn.) picked up his first collegiate victory in net after making a career-high 37 saves as the Gusties improve to 5-15-4 overall and 4-10-1 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Even with the loss, Hamline clinched a playoff berth by virtue of a Saint John’s loss but is battling to stay out of the No. 4-5 play-in game with a 7-5-3 league record (10-9-5 overall).
Mike Fabie (Jr., St. Paul, Minn.) gave the Gusties an early 1-0 lead at the 9:31 mark in the first period with his first goal of the season in just his second game played this year. Seth Ensor (So., Sugar Land, Texas) was credited with the assist, his second of the season. With 2:10 remaining in the opening frame, Russell Barone (Fy., Mohena, Ill.) found the back of the net for the third time this season, assisted by Joe Lindberg (Sr., Excelsior, Minn.) and Kegan Couture (Fy., Pequot Lake, Minn.), and the Gusties led 2-0 at the first intermission.
Hamline ended the shutout at the 2:10 mark of the second period on a goal by Cody Bentzel and the score remained 2-1 after the first 40 minutes of play. The Pipers fired 21 shots on goal in the second frame, but Tjaden was up to the challenge with 20 saves.
Tim Donohue (Jr., Bloomington, Minn.) added an insurance goal on a power play 5:15 into the third period, his fifth of the season, assisted by Nick Sheak (Jr., Woodbury, Minn.), and the Gusties skated away with the two-goal victory. The Gusties outshot the Pipers 40-38 and held the home team scoreless on two power play opportunities. Hamline controlled the dots, winning the faceoff battle 48-29.
Gustavus puts a wrap on the season at 7:05 p.m. tomorrow at Don Roberts Ice Rink for Senior Night. The Gusties are looking for their first back-to-back series sweep since the 2013-14 season.