Box Score
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. – Saint John's hockey took over sole possession of first place in the MIAC with another 4-1 win to complete the weekend sweep of No. 13/14 St. Thomas on Saturday, Feb. 10, in Mendota Heights.
The line of senior
Sam Valerius (Maple Grove, Minn.) and juniors
Garrett Riebling (Chanhassen, Minn.) and
Robb Stautz (Roseville, Minn.) accounted for the Johnnies' first three goals Saturday night, totaling eight points (3g/5a), 24 hours after recording what proved to be the game-winning goal in Friday's 4-1 win in St. Cloud.
Valerius tallied what proved to be the game-winning goal and added two assists, Riebling posted three helpers and Stautz scored a pair of goals.
Sophomore goaltender
Andrew Lindgren (Minneapolis, Minn.) made 25 saves to earn his 10th win of the season (10-3-1) and move to 7-2-0 in conference play.
UST (14-8-1, 9-4-1 MIAC) entered the weekend's series having allowed 10 goals during a 7-game win streak.
The win clinched a spot in the five-team MIAC Playoffs for the Johnnies (15-6-2, 10-4-0 MIAC), who now sit atop the league standings with 30 points, two ahead of UST and three in front of Augsburg.
The regular-season, series sweep of the Tommies is the first for the Johnnies since the 2004-05 season.
Following a scoreless first period, Stautz gave SJU a 1-0 lead 1:26 into the second period with a rebound goal off the initial shot on net from Riebling. Valerius picked up the second assist and now has 10 points (3g/7a) during a current six-game point streak.
Valerius made it 2-0 with a deflection following a wrap-around attempt by Riebling with 9:08 left in the second period, but Derek Olmschenk cut UST's deficit in half 27 seconds later.
Stautz padded the Johnnies' lead with his second goal of the night 12:52 into the third period and sophomore forward
Brady Heppner (Crookston, Minn.) sealed the sweep with his team-leading 13th goal of the season 2:10 later.
UST out-shot SJU 26-20 in the game, though 10 of the Tommies' shots on goal occurred during the man advantage (0-for-3).
The Johnnies close the regular season with a home-and-home series against Gustavus Adolphus (9-11-3, 8-6-0 MIAC), beginning with a 7:05 p.m. puck-drop on Friday, Feb. 16, in St. Peter.
