The Gustavus men’s hockey team scored five times in the second period on its way to an impressive 7-3 win over Saint John’s at Don Roberts Ice Rink in St. Peter on Friday night. Sophomore Cody Mosbeck scored twice to lead Gustavus, while sophomore Jamie Leathers contributed one goal and two assists. Goaltender Josh Swartout picked up the win in the nets. Three of the Gusties five goals in the second period came within :60 seconds midway through the period. Gustavus improves to 11-10-1 overall and 8-5-0 in the MIAC, while Saint John’s falls to 9-9-2 overall and 5-4-2 in the MIAC.
The two teams battled to a 0-0 tie through the first 19:45 of the first period, however the Johnnies took advantage of late penalty and jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Pat Eagles scored a power play goal with :15 left on the clock. Both teams recorded seven shots in the period.
The defensive struggle of the first period turned into a shootout in the second period and the Gusties tallied the tying goal at the 1:39 mark as Rory Dynan scored with an assist from his brother Patrick. The Johnnies jumped back into the lead when Joel Stacklie scored midway through the period (9:59) making the score 2-1 in favor of Saint John’s. Less than a minute later, Gustavus knotted the score at 2-2 as David Martinson scored with assists from Ben Ollila and Tim Ornell. The Gusties would continue the onslaught as they would two more goals in the next minute to take a 4-2 lead. Niko Suoraniemi scored :29 seconds after Martinson (11:25) and then T.J. Ridley lit the lamp again just :33 seconds later. Jamie Leathers assisted on Suoraniemi’s goal, while Joe Welch and Leathers assisted on Ridley’s goal. The three goal outburst in :62 seconds is the fourth quickest three goal series in the program’s history. However, the Gusties were not done yet as Cody Mosbeck made the score 5-2 with a power play goal at the 13:34 mark. Rory Dynan was credited with the assist. Gustavus took a 5-2 lead into the lockerroom at the end of the second period. The Gusties had not scored five goals in a period since Nov. 11, 2005 (a stretch of 71 games), when Gustavus tallied five goals in the first period on its way to a 7-2 victory over St. Scholastica in Duluth.
Gustavus kept the pressure on in the third period and extended the lead to 6-2 when Mosbeck scored again, this time it was an even strength tally at the 7:48 mark. Martinson and Ornell were credited with assists. The Johnnies picked up their third goal of the contest when Tom Freeman scored on a power play at 15:38. The Gusties closed out the scoring on an unassisted goal by Jamie Leathers at the 16:23 mark.
Leathers led the Gusties in scoring with a goal and two assists for three points. Cody Mosbeck contributed two goals, while David Martinson and Rory Dynan each tallied one goal and one assist, and Tim Ornell recorded two assists.
Josh Swartout recorded 20 saves and picked up the win in the nets. Swartout is now unbeaten in five consecutive starts and he has compiled a record of 4-0-1 during that stretch. He is 7-3-1 overall with a 2.17 goals against average in 12 appearances this season.
The win was much needed for the Gusties who are in a heated battle for one of five spots in the MIAC Playoffs. Gustavus (8-5-0) moved into a second place tie with St. Thomas (8-3-0) which was surprised by Hamline 5-4 at the Tommies rink on Friday night.
Gustavus will wrap up its weekend series with the Johnnies tomorrow night with a game at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud. Game time is 7:05 pm.