SAINT PETER, Minn. - The Gustavus men's hockey team erased a two-goal deficit in the third period Friday night at Don Roberts Ice Rink, completing a 4-3 comeback victory in overtime against Bethel. The Gusties, now 12-6 overall, extend their MIAC winning streak to eight games and are now 8-1 in the conference.
After a scoreless first period, Bethel got on the board first by way of a power play, taking advantage of a five-minute major at the 11:00 mark of the second. With just under four minutes left in the period,
Jack Kubitz won a puck battle against the boards and sprung
Hunter Newhouse free up the right side for a two-on-one breakaway. Newhouse then fed
Riku Brown in the slot for his third goal of the season. It appeared the game was headed to the second intermission tied 1-1, but the Royals scored a late goal to take a 2-1 advantage after 40 minutes.
Bethel then gained a two-goal lead 2:26 into the third period, scoring on a loose puck that slipped past
Colin Androlewicz on the back post. The Gusties had gone 0-for-2 on the power play until the 7:18 mark of the third when the puck cycled around to
Jackson McCarthy in the right circle, who took a shot and the rebound came to Brown who backhanded in his second goal of the game, cutting the deficit to one goal. The Gusties then netted the equalizer with six minutes left in regulation as
Joey Gimberlin crashed the net hard with the rebound going to
Wilmer Svensson, who tallied his sixth goal of the season.
Starting the three-on-three overtime period on the defensive end for most of the first minute,
Drew Holt flipped the ice and broke free up the right side, finding Svensson open to his left on a breakaway for the game-winner at the 3:26 mark.
Androlewicz earned the win in the crease after making 18 saves as the Gusties out-shot the Royals 26-21. Both teams went 1-for-3 on the power play.
Gustavus and Bethel wrap up the home-and-home series at 5 p.m. Saturday in Blaine.
