Saint John's travels to face Saint Mary's for a pair of important games this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3-4. The series opener is scheduled for 8 p.m. tonight, followed by a 4 p.m. puck-drop Saturday, at the SMU Ice Arena in Winona. – Listen Live (Friday) | Watch Live (Friday) | Live Stats (Both Games)

Preview Video:
-Head coach Doug Schueller (1:56)

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Hamline scored five unanswered goals to defeat Saint John's 5-1 and salvage a split last Friday, Jan. 27, in Vadnais Heights. The loss snapped a four-game win streak for SJU. Freshman Wally Cossette (Maple Grove, Minn.) gave SJU (7-10-2, 5-5-0 MIAC) a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal 7:40 into the first period. SJU was called for two costly penalties, including a five-minute major, with just over six minutes to play.  Hamline scored three goals in the game's final six minutes. Senior Tony Civello (Shoreview, Minn.) made 33 saves in the loss.

A LOOK AT THE CARDINALS: Saint Mary's (4-14-1, 1-8-1 MIAC) dropped a pair of games to Augsburg, 3-2 and 5-4 (OT), last weekend. In the second contest, sophomore Ryan Griffiths gave the Cardinals an early 1-0 lead six minutes into the opening period, while junior Kevin Wentland extended the Cardinal lead to two just four minutes later. Freshman Bob Marx scored two second-period goals to give SMU a 4-3 advantage. Augsburg tied the game with under four minutes remaining and tallied the game-winner 2:34 into overtime. Sophomore Austin Balko leads the Cardinals in points with 14 (6g/8a), while Wentland is second with 13 (7g/6a).

LAST SEASON: Saint John's split the season series with Saint Mary's last season in St. Cloud. In the first game, SMU scored three goals on seven shots in the first period to take a 3-1 lead. Junior Jascha Pettit (Wadena, Minn.) tallied a goal with two seconds left in the second period to tie the game at three apiece. SJU outshot the Cardinals 33-25, including 24-16 in the first two periods. Civello made 21 saves in the loss.

In the second meeting, junior Michael Palmiscno (East Grand Forks, Minn.) gave SJU a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal 3:30 into the contest, and Alex Lindeberg '11 and Grant Ellena '11 added first-period goals to give the Johnnies a 3-1 lead in the opening frame. After a scoreless second period, sophomore Axel Ramsgard (Gothenburg, Sweden) increased the Johnnies' lead to 4-1 at the 5:35 mark of the third period. The Johnnies outshot the Cardinals 38-22 in the game, including a 27-8 advantage late in the second period. Civello made 20 saves to earn the victory.

SERIES HISTORY: SJU is 37-22-3 against Saint Mary's since the 1984-85 season and has won 15 of the last 19 meetings. The Johnnies are 12-4-2 in in the last 18 meetings in Winona, including wins in seven of the last eight games at SMU Ice Arena.