Box Score

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Saint John's hockey dropped the series opener to St. Thomas 4-2 on Friday, Feb. 7, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.

The Tommies (9-7-3, 6-4-1 MIAC) broke open a scoreless game with three goals and a 20-7 shot advantage in the second period. John Peterson started the scoring with a deflection in front 5:03 into the frame. 

UST was awarded a power play 1:12 later and senior forward Brady Heppner (Crookston, Minn.) nearly tied it for SJU (7-8-5, 4-3-4 MIAC) when his shot went wide on a shorthanded breakaway. The Tommies' Johnny Panvica made it 2-0 seconds later.

The Johnnies had the opportunity to end another UST power play late in the second period, as a Tommie was whistled for a penalty with 34 seconds left in the man advantage, but senior captain Adam Orn (Ramsey, Minn.) was called for a matching penalty following a scrum after the whistle. Justin Kelley made it 3-0 for UST 13 seconds later.

Spencer Zwiener gave the Tommies a 4-0 lead 1:33 into the third period.

Senior forward Kyle Wagner (St. Francis, Minn.) ended the shutout with his fifth goal of the season, and 15th of his career, on the power play 4:25 into the third. It was the Johnnies' first shot on goal in 5:34 of power play.

A pair of freshmen from Edina connected for the game's final goal with 3:04 remaining. Defenseman Peter Tabor skated behind the net and found forward Auggie Moore in front for an easy one-timer, Moore's sixth goal of the season. 

The Johnnies had a 6-on-4 power play, thanks to the goal pulled, for the game's final 1:43 but only mustered one shot on goal. 

Senior goaltender Andrew Lindgren (Minneapolis, Minn.) made 42 saves in the loss as UST posted a 46-28 shot advantage. Fourteen of the 46 shots came during a 2-for-5 showing on the power play (7:57 elapsed) for the Tommies, while SJU went 1-for-4 with two shots on goal (7:17 elapsed).

The Johnnies and Tommies conclude the weekend series at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, in Mendota Heights.