SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s hockey team tied St. Olaf Saturday night, finishing 3-3 after the first OT period. Gustavus though will get an extra point in the MIAC standings as Axel Hallin (Sr., Hovas, Sweden) found the back of the net with less than a minute remaining in the second OT period which was 3-on-3. With the result the Gusties move to 6-6-1 overall and 3-2-1 in the MIAC while the Oles are now 2-12-1 overall and 1-6-1 in the MIAC.
“Really proud of the way we hung in there tonight,” said Head Coach Brett Petersen. “Credit to St. Olaf, they had us bottled up for a good chunk of the game. We also lost a couple of guys to injuries and we needed some guys to step and that was positive as well.”
The Oles got the scoring started early, finding the back of the net 54 seconds in to take the early edge. Gustavus then would start putting shots on net, eventually finding the back of the net when Caleb Anderson (Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) fired a shot from just inside the blue line to even things at 1-1, a score that would hold out until the end of the period.
In the second period, the Oles would continue to pressure the Gusties, outshooting the home team 9-6 in the period. They were able to find the back of the net again 14:16 to take a 2-1 lead, and head to the final period in the lead.
The Oles would get a goal early in the third period, taking a two-goal lead, but the Gusties would respond. Nick Klishko (Jr., San Diego, Calif) got a short handed goal, with assists going to Will LeNeave (Jr., Medina) and Anderson with just under eight minutes remaining. LeNeave then notched the equalizer just over two minutes later after he was able to slap home the rebound on a Toby Sengvongxay (So., Luverne) shot. The teams played the rest scoreless and headed to overtime.
In the first 5-on-5 overtime period, the teams played five minutes scoreless and headed to a second OT period. The second five minute segment was 3-on-3 and things seemed to be headed towards a shootout, before Logan Norman (Jr., Luverne) was able to steal the puck and headed the other way on a 2-on-1 advantage. He found Hallin in the center of the ice, and Hallin took his time before sending a shot to the right of the Ole goaltender for the extra point.
Robbie Goor (Jr., Anoka) got the start in net, making 22 saves while allowing three goals.
The Gusties are next in action Friday when they host Northland for a 7:05 p.m. contest.