By Aaron Todd <[email protected]> —
Philip Alftberg scored a power play goal in the second period, and Emil Zetterquist made 30 saves and stopped three out of five shots in the shootout to lead the St. Lawrence University men’s hockey team to a 3-2 shootout win following a 1-1 tie with Colgate in an ECAC Hockey contest at Appleton Arena on Sunday evening.
After falling behind 1-0 in the shootout, the Saints took control with goals by Greg Lapointe and Cameron Buhl to extend the shootout after the teams were tied 2-2 after three shooters. Both Zetterquist and Colgate goaltender Carter Gylander made saves in the fourth round, but Nicholas Trela put the Saints ahead 3-2 with a shot through the five-hole in the fifth round. Zetterquist stopped the next shot to give the Saints the win in the shootout and two points in the ECAC standings.
The game was the third between the two teams in four games. St. Lawrence won the first game, 2-1 in Hamilton, and Colgate won the second game, 4-2, on Saturday at Appelton. With two points tonight, St. Lawrence earned five points in the series, while Colgate earned four.
The result moved the Saints, now 2-1-2 overall and in conference play, into sole possession of first place in the ECAC Hockey standings with nine points. Colgate moved to 2-3-3 overall and has six points in the standings with a 1-2-2 record in ECAC Hockey games.
After a scoreless first period, Alftberg gave the Saints a 1-0 lead on a blast from the blue line that ring off the crossbar and into the net halfway through the first period. The goal was the first of the season for Alftberg and St. Lawrence’s second power play goal of the year. Justin Paul and Cameron Buhl assisted on the play.
Colgate tied the score with a shorthanded goal less than five minutes into the third period, as Josh McKechney put away a rebound after Zetterquist made an incredible pad save on Nick Anderson’s shot.
St. Lawrence briefly thought it had taken the lead with just 3:15 to play in regulation, as Paul sent a loose puck on a rebound into the back of the net, but the officials ruled that there was goaltender interference on the play.
Lapointe had one of the best chances to score in the 3-on-3 overtime period, freeing himself up for an open shot from the slot, but he fired the puck off the crossbar and up into the rafters, stopping play.
Colgate had a 31-27 advantage in shots on goal; Gylander made 26 saves for the Raiders.
St. Lawrence was 1-for-3 on the power play and held Colgate scoreless on four power play opportunities, including 51 seconds of a 5-on-3 advantage in the first period.
St. Lawrence will go on the road on Wednesday to face Niagara in its first non-conference game of the year, then returns to the North Country for a home-and-home series with Clarkson, facing the Golden Knights at Cheel Arena on Friday at 5 p.m. before hosting their Route 11 Rivals on Saturday at 4 p.m.
(St. Lawrence athletic photo)
