Surging Green Knights Rout Bulldogs

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, January 25, 2019 | Men's Hockey
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - St. Norbert College scored seven goals for the third consecutive game with an impressive 7-0 win over Adrian College in a Northern Collegiate Hockey Association game at Cornerstone Community Center.

The victory lifted the sixth-ranked Green Knights (13-4-3, 9-3-1 NCHA) to a first-place tie with Lake Forest College in the overall league standings with five games remaining on the regular-season schedule. The triumph was St. Norbert's 300th all-time in NCHA play against 80 losses and 33 ties.

St. Norbert's shutout win was the first whitewashing by either team in the 19-game series history. The win also extended St. Norbert's unbeaten streak at Cornerstone Community Center to 36 games, going 33-0-3 over that stretch.

The Green Knights took a 1-0 lead after one period after Kurt Black's goal at 10:57 of the frame. Black's effort getting the puck off the wall into the middle led to his shot deflecting past Adrian goaltender Nikita Babintsev for what would end up being the only goal St. Norbert would need.

St. Norbert doubled its lead in the second period when Timmy Nicksic stripped the puck and raced in on a shorthanded breakaway to score at 7:11 of the frame, his fifth goal of the season.

The NCHA's top scoring offense then broke loose for a five-goal barrage in the third period. Peyton Frantti's power-play goal at 1:41 sneaked just under the crossbar and was pointed in for a 3-0 advantage. Roman Uchyn finished a power-play chance at 7:48 for a 4-0 edge. Frantti scored again at 12:38, followed by another Nicksic goal at 14:49. Black pumped in his team-high 11th goal of the season with a score at 15:21.

The game was marred by 23 penalties, with Adrian whistled 14 times for 58 minutes while St. Norbert was tabbed for nine minor infractions. The Green Knights were 2-for-5 on the power play, while Adrian was 0-for-4. St. Norbert is 8-for-15 in its last three games on the man advantage.

T.J. Black made 22 saves for his 18th career shutout. The Green Knights outshot the Bulldogs 39-22.

Kurt Black finished with two goals and two assists for four points, while Frantti added an assist for a three-point game. Peter Bates finished with two assists to join Nicksic with a two-point evening.