Green Knights Survive In Wild Win Over Saints

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, February 1, 2019 | Men's Hockey
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DULUTH, Minn. - St. Norbert College fended off every College of St. Scholastica comeback attempt as the Green Knights won their sixth consecutive game in a 6-5 victory in a Northern Collegiate Hockey Association game at Mars Lakeview Arena.

The Green Knights (15-4-3, 11-3-1) maintained their two-point lead in the overall NCHA standings with the win with three games to go. St. Norbert can also clinch the NCHA North Division with its next win, clinching home ice through at least the Harris Cup Playoffs semifinals.

The win in the Twin Ports didn't come easily, with the Saints fighting back every time St. Norbert would open a two-goal lead.

St. Norbert carried a 3-2 lead into the third period but the Saints' Brett Radford tied the game just 18 seconds into the frame. The Green Knights took the lead on goals by Steven Phillips and Timmy Nicksic at 4:10 and 6:32, respectively, but St. Scholastica would get a goal back on a power-play marker by Kyle Star at 7:44. Dominick Sacco pushed St. Norbert ahead by two goals yet again with a goal at 10:44, but the Saints would knock on the door again with Jon Hansen's goal at 13:42.

The Green Knights would have a power-play chance late in the third period but couldn't score. The Saints then had an extra attacker on for the last 1:10 of the game, and also had a power play for the final seven seconds, but couldn't draw even.

St. Norbert held a 1-0 lead after one period on Brad Pung's goal at 11:07. The Saints would tie the game at 1-1 on Carson Rose's goal at 1:12 of the second period. The Green Knights would take a two-goal lead on a power-play goal by Pung at 12:11 and a score by Brendon Gysbers at 13:50. Rose brought the Saints back to within one with a goal at 14:56, setting up the hectic third period.

In additions to Pung's two-point game, Nicksic, Sacco and Phillips all added an assist for a multi-point game. Roman Uchyn and Riley Christensen had two assists apiece.

St. Norbert outshot St. Scholastica 41-29. T.J. Black made 24 stops for the Green Knights, with Nick Trenciansky turning away 35 shots for the Saints.

The Green Knights were 1-for-4 on the power play, while St. Scholastica was 1-for-3.