Box Score

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Saint John's hockey defeated Hamline 4-2 on Thursday night, Jan. 29, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center (HBNHC).

Junior forward Cam Boche (Lakeville, Minn.) scored twice and the Johnnies held steadfast through the final minutes of the third period to clinch their series-opening victory over the Pipers (4-12-3, 4-5-2 MIAC). SJU (9-5-4, 4-2-3 MIAC) surrendered a pair of power play goals late in the third, but a full-ice shorthanded empty-netter from senior defenseman Conner Couet (St. Michael, Minn.) sealed the win as time ticked down.
 
Senior goaltender Jon Howe (Chanhassen, Minn.) and his Hamline counterpart on the other end of the ice each made double-digit saves to keep the two teams deadlocked at 0-0 at the end of the first period. 

Boche broke the shutout 5:29 into the second with his first power play goal of the season. After senior captain Mason Campbell's (Rosemount, Minn.) shot drifted wide of the net, freshman defenseman Cashen Naeve (Independence, Minn.) picked up the rebound on the half-wall and found Boche all alone in the slot who drilled it into the left corner of the net. SJU's lead held for the rest of the period, as Howe tacked on 12 more saves to his total. 

A Campbell shot from the point helped SJU score the first goal of a five-goal third, as junior Logan Lyke (Medina, Minn.) tucked away his team-leading ninth goal of the season off a rebound in front 3:39 after the second intermission.

Boche scored his second of the game and the eventual game-winner halfway through the final frame, intercepting a bad Piper pass and maneuvering to his backhand to beat HU goaltender Cade Chapman. 



Saint John's was penalized four times after Boche's goal, and Hamline converted twice with the player advantage. The Johnnies were whistled for too many men on the ice with 29 seconds to play in regulation and the Pipers pulled Chapman for the extra skater. Lyke drew the puck to the half-wall for Naeve who touched it to his defensive partner Couet. Couet launched the puck down the center of the ice to clear the zone and found the back of the empty net to erase any hopes of a Piper comeback. 

Four Johnnies finished with two points apiece and Howe earned his eighth victory with his fifth 40-save performance of the season. 

Saint John's completes its series vs. Hamline at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at TRIA Ice Rink in St. Paul.