CANTON, N.Y. — Joe Sullivan scored 20 seconds into overtime and for the second straight night, the Cornell men’s hockey team dropped a 2-1 decision in the extra frame when St. Lawrence skated away with a victory Saturday night at Appleton Arena. Mitch Gillam made 36 saves for the Big Red.
Jake Weidner scored the lone goal for #13/14 Cornell (11-7-3, 6-6-2 ECAC Hockey) on the power play in the first period, but St. Lawrence (13-11-2, 7-6-1) knotted the game on Gavin Bayreuther’s long shot through traffic with 7:53 left in the third period.
Cornell was awarded the first power play of the game and wasted little time capitalizing to take an early lead. After a shot from distance was blocked, Holden Anderson was first to the loose puck on the left halfwall to help the Big Red keep possession. Trevor Yates worked the puck from the end boards to Matt Buckles in the left circle, who quickly dished back to Weidner just above the hash marks. His shot sailed over the blocker of St. Lawrence goalie Kyle Hayton for his third goal of the season at the 11:08 mark.
About a minute and a half later, St. Lawrence broke up ice on a line rush that seemed well defended until Bayreuther was wide open as the fourth man up ice. He received a pass and cruised into the slot, but Gillam positioned himself on top of the crease and made the glove save. The Saints then had consecutive power plays later in the period, but the Big Red strung together successful kills — thanks in part to the crossbar’s denial of an Bayreuther offering from the right circle — to carry the lead into the first intermission.
The Big Red started the second period strong, but Hayton made saves from close range on Eric Freschi and Weidner. The latter chance created a penalty which led to the first of three straight Cornell power plays, but the visitors could not expand on their lead.
St. Lawrence then took control in the third period, outshooting the Big Red by a 19-7 margin. Gillam was outstanding with a glove saves on Tommy Thompson from the slot after a toe drag around a defender with 8:29 to play, Eric Sweetman on a one-timer through traffic with 7:21 to play, and Drew Smolcynski’s shorthanded semi-breakaway with 3:18 left.
Sullivan then provided the winner just 20 seconds into overtime when Cornell lost a puck battle in the circle to Gillam’s left, and Sullivan beat his defender off the boards to swoop in and lift a backhand past the goalie’s left arm. The Big Red is now winless in six straight and 3-3-3 in its nine overtime games this season.
Cornell will hit the road again next weekend, starting with a visit to consensus No. 1 Quinnipiac at 7 p.m. Friday. The Big Red then ventures south to wrap up the trip with a 7 p.m. Saturday matchup against Ivy League opponent Princeton.
