Box Score | Photos (John Biasi)

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Saint John's scored seven unanswered goals, including five in the second period as the host Johnnies defeated Saint Mary's 8-2 on Saturday, Feb. 21, in St. Cloud. The Johnnies can clinch a MIAC playoff spot with a win against the Cardinals on Sunday, Feb. 22. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.

Freshmen Grant Ellena (Coon Rapids, Minn.) and Conor Rooney (Stillwater, Minn.) tallied two goals each, as Rooney, junior Karl Gilbert (Hermantown, Minn.) and junior Jake Koehler (Ramsey, Minn.) recorded three points apiece on the night.

SMU (3-20-1, 2-12-1 MIAC) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a goal from Steve Murphy at the 4:02 mark of the first period. The Johnnies (10-13-1, 7-7-1 MIAC) responded quickly, however, as senior Jason Johannes (Eagan, Minn.) tied the game at 1-1 just two minutes later. Gilbert and senior Clayton Rehm (Park Rapids, Minn.) assisted on the scoring play.

Mike Glaesmer then made it 2-1 in favor of the Cardinals halfway thru the period.

Koehler started the five-goal flurry just three minutes into the second frame, before Ellena netted his eighth goal of the season on a 5-on-3 advantage near the eight-minute mark. A goal from Gilbert and two from Rooney, the first goals of his collegiate career, made it 6-2 in favor of SJU at the end of two periods.

Ellena and junior Dylan Decker (Park City, Utah) ended the scoring with two even-strength goals in the third.

The Johnnies, who went the first 58:33 without a penalty, were 1-for-3 on the power play in the contest.

Senior goaltender Vince Wheeler (Clearwater, Minn.) made 35 saves to improve his record to 10-8-1 on the season.