The Gustavus men’s hockey team scored four goals in the first period and kept on scoring as the Gusties defeated Augsburg 8-4 on Saturday at Don Roberts Ice Rink. David Martinson led Gustavus with two goals and an assist as eleven different players recorded points. The Gustie win gave Head Coach Brett Petersen’s squad a key sweep in the standings to stay in contention for home-ice advantage during the MIAC Playoffs as Gustavus improved to 12-7-0 overall and 7-3-0 in the league. Augsburg dropped to 3-14-0 overall and 2-6-0 in the conference.
In a fast paced first period, both teams had quality scoring opportunities and took advantage as six total goals were scored. Augsburg lit the lamp first when Cory Ellertson skated around the defense and slipped a backhand past Gustavus goaltender Matt Lopes near the left post 2:48 into the game. Brad Wieck tied the score at 1-1 as he deked past an Auggie defenseman and shot the puck to the low blocker side of Augsburg goaltender Andrew Kent.
Jim Jensen made it 2-1 in favor of the Auggies when he chipped the puck into the top right corner of the net after receiving a pass from Chris Johnson behind the net at the 12:56 mark. After an Augsburg holding penalty, Gustavus’ Eric Bigham stuffed the puck between Kent’s right pad and the right post for the power play goal to even the score 2-2 at 16:27.
Brad Wieck started a three-on-one rush when he checked an Augsburg defenseman off the puck at the Auggie blue line. Ross Ring-Jarvi picked up the loose puck along the left side of the rink and hit David Martinson, who chipped in the puck for the goal, with a pass across the crease at 17:57.
After Augsburg was called for its second penalty of the period, the Gusties added their fourth goal five seconds into the power play when Spencer Campion took a wrist shot from the center of the blue line to make the score 4-2 with 00:32 before intermission.
The scoring continued as James Leathers scored 1:03 into the second period after Bigham passed the puck from behind the Auggies’ net. Augsburg stopped the Gustie scoring string when John Lennartson got a slap shot past Lopes with 15:22 on the clock with assists going to Ben Roberts and Nick Streine to make the score 5-3. Gustavus would add two more goals before the end of the period when Martinson scored his 22nd goal of the season and Patrick Dynan pushed the puck across the goal after a scramble in front of the net at the 19:16 mark. The Gusties skated into the locker room leading 7-3.
Casey Dynan scored his eighth goal of the season on a backhand 00:32 into the third period as the Gusties took an 8-3 lead. Augsburg was not finished, though, as Chris Johnson muscled his way past the defense to score on a backhand as he was dragged down to the ice bringing the score to 8-4 midway through the period, which was where the score stood at the final horn.
Gustavus goaltender Matt Lopes recorded 19 saves in the win as his record moved to 6-3-0. Jake Swansson came in midway through the third period and registered two saves. The Auggies’ Andrew Kent made 16 saves in the first two periods giving up seven goals as he suffered the loss. Kevin Drakulic moved between the pipes at the start of the third period for Augsburg making three saves and allowing one goal before Jon Zitur came at 9:47 and made four saves. The Gusties finished the game 2-for-5 on the power play compared to the Auggies going 0-for-4 with the extra attacker.
Gustavus will to extend its winning streak against Saint John’s on Friday night in St. Peter with the puck dropping at 7:05 p.m.