Box Score

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – A 3-0 lead slipped away for Saint John's hockey in a 5-4 non-conference loss to Marian (Wis.) on Saturday, Nov. 26, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center (HBNHC) in St. Cloud.

Marian (3-6, 1-5 NCHA) cut its deficit to 3-2 with a pair of goals 27 seconds apart in the second period and tied the game 54 seconds into the third. The visitors gained their first lead of the game at the 11:43 mark of the third period, but freshman forward Brady Heppner (Crookston, Minn.) tied it up at 4-4 for SJU (4-4-1, 2-2-0 MIAC) with his third goal of the season 2:12 later.

A mishandled pass at the point turned into a 2-on-1 for the Sabres and an eventual shorthanded, game-winning goal with 2:17 remaining.

Junior forward Sam Valerius (Maple Grove, Minn.) scored his third (8:16) and fourth (11:41) goals of the season in the first period, and sophomore forward Joe Chitwood (Carmel, Ind.) made it 3-0 at the 12:35 mark.

Senior goaltender Tyler Nelson (Champlin, Minn.) made 24 saves in the loss.

SJU struggled on the power play despite a 1-for-3 showing. The home team collected five shots and Valerius' tally on the team's first man advantage of the game in the opening frame, but did not record a shot on goal on the other two power plays, including a five-minute major early in the second period.

The Johnnies host Lawrence (Wis.) for a 2 p.m. non-conference game on Sunday, Nov. 27, at the HBNHC in St. Cloud.