SAINT PETER, Minn. - Gustavus men's hockey earned its first shutout victory of the season Friday night at Don Roberts Ice Rink, defeating Saint Mary's 4-0 in game one of the conference series. The Gusties improve to 5-4-1 overall and 2-3-0 in the MIAC, while the Cardinals drop to 2-8-0 overall and 1-4-0 in the league.
After a scoreless first period,
Wilmer Svensson knocked in what proved to be the game-winning goal directly in front of the crease at the 7:52 mark of the second.
Grant Ellings and
Drew Holt assisted on the goal.
Nate Stone then popped the goalie's water bottle at the 14:04 mark for his team-leading fifth goal of the season, assisted by Connor Mahoney and
Jack Suchy. Two minutes later, the Gusties took advantage of a power play as Suchy sniped in his fifth goal of the season to tie Stone for the team lead, as
Jack Anderson was credited with the helper.
Four minutes into the third period,
Jack Kubitz put in his first goal of the season, assisted by
Mason Hendrickson, and the score remained 4-0 for the final.
Jackson Hjelle earned his first shutout of the season, stopping all 20 shots faced as the Gusties outshot the Cardinals 28-20. The Gustie penalty kill fended off all four Cardinal power plays, improving their season kill percentage to .812.
Game two of the series begins at 7 p.m. Saturday in Winona.
