Fifth-seeded Quinnipiac scored its first goal against fourth-seeded St. Lawrence this season just 16 seconds into Saturday’s game to spark the Bobcats to a 3-2 win in game two of the ECAC Hockey quarterfinal series at Appleton Arena. With the win, Quinnipiac ties the series at 1-1 and forces a deciding game three on Sunday night at 7 p.m.
The No. 19 Saints outshot the Bobcats 33-28 in the contest, but the early goal and two more from Quinnipiac’s Craig Martin were the difference despite a late comeback bid by St. Lawrence.
Alex Whelan gave Quinnipiac a 1-0 lead on the first shift of the night with a wrist shot from the low left circle that beat Kyle Hayton high under the crossbar. It was the first goal for the Bobcats against Hayton since February 12, 2016.
At 9:41 of the opening frame, Mike Marnell buried his team-leading third shorthanded goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1. Ryan Lough’s initial shot on the rush was saved by Quinnipiac’s Andrew Shortridge, but Marnell was there to pot the rebound for the equalizer.
Less than two minutes later, however, Craig Martin scored his first of two goals on the power play to help send Quinnipiac into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead. He scored his second of the night, and the eventual game winner, at the 12:02 mark of the middle frame to extend the lead to 3-1.
The Saints had the better of the play in the third period with a 20-5 shot advantage and three power-play chances. It wasn’t until the 15:05 mark that Michael Ederer broke through with the Saints second goal of the night and his second of the series to cut the deficit to 3-2. Linemates Joe Sullivan and Marnell assisted on the play.
Shortridge made 19 saves in the third period and a total of 31 in the win for the Bobcats. Kyle Hayton finished with 25 saves for the Saints.
