Box Score

HAMILTON, NY -- St. Lawrence University's men's hockey team finally managed to get more than one puck past Colgate goalie Mark Dekanich in a game, scoring three against the Raider standout in the second period, and the Saints went on to a 5-2 win over Colgate in game one of a best of three ECAC Hockey playoff series at Colgate Friday night.

Defenseman Zach Miskovic scored two goals and goaltender John Hallas made 30 saves in his first post-season start as the Saints won their third in a row and won a playoff series opener at Colgate for the third time in three series between the two teams at Starr Rink.

"That was a great way for us to start things off, but it is just one step on a difficult trail," said Saint coach Joe Marsh. "We have been in this situation before and we know it isn't easy to finish it off. Hopefully we can build on the momentum we have from three really good outings in a row and finish it off Saturday night, but we know it is not going to be easy."

While Colgate had some grade-A scoring chances turned back by Hallas early in the first period, the Saints broke the scoring ice and outplayed Colgate in the final six minutes of a fast-paced first period.

Jared Ross scored his fifth post-season goal and sixth goal of the current season as he slapped a hard shot along the ice from the left point which sizzled its way inside the far post before a screened Dekanich could react. Shawn Fensel and Charlie Giffin assisted on the goal at the 15:44 mark. That goal seemed to ignite the Saint offense, which had been limited to some long-range shots on Dekanich prior to that point. Mike McKenzie had a great chance turned back by the Colgate goalie and the Saints snapped a couple of shots just wide in the final minutes.

The Saints had a goal waved off as Aaron Bogosian came out of the corner and snapped one past Dekanich early in the second period, but scored one that counted just seconds later. Miskovic scored his seventh of the year, snapping the puck past Dekanich on the short side after a big rebound off a save on a shot by Brock McBride. Alex Curran also assisted on the goal at 4:28 of the second.

Colgate coach Don Vaughan pulled his star goalie to give him a chance to refocus after the second Saint goal, but he returned after a three minute rest and Sean Flanagan greeted his return with a rocket just under the crossbar with Charlie Giffin and Pat Muir assisting at 10:47. It was the second goal in the last three games and third of the year for Flanagan, stretching his scoring streak to three games.

The Saints had an excellent opportunity to add to their lead when Jeremiah Cunningham broke away shorthanded, but Dekanich made the save with his pad to keep it a 3-0 game at 12:57 of the second.

It went to 4-0 when Miskovic, the leading goal-scorer among ECAC Hockey defensemen overall, scored his second of the game on a power play shot from the center point with McBride and Kevin DeVergilio assisting with just 18 seconds to go in the period, capping an excellent second period for the Saints.

SLU outshot Colgate 14-5 in the second period and paid close attention to Colgate scoring standouts Jesse Winchester and Tyler Burton throughout the game. "I was very pleased with our defensive effort throughout," said Marsh. "Winchester and Burton are two players who put a lot of pressure on you, but our guys were excellent against them tonight and "H" made a couple of big saves when they did work their way free."

Colgate got on the board just 1:16 into the third period when Ethan Cox broke in on a wing and snapped a wrist shot inside the far post to make it a 4-1 game. Justin Kowalkoski, who took over in goal for Colgate in the third, kept it a three-goal game when he stuffed Giffin on a shorthanded rush with 7:20 to play, but a great play by McBride gave the Saints their four-goal lead back at 16:25.

McBride picked up his third assist of the game when he worked the puck away from a Colgate defender and snapped a pass right onto the stick of Travis Vermeulen, who was all alone in front of Kowalkoski and redirected the puck into the net for his seventh of the year.

The Raiders did add a second goal with 34 seconds to go when Jason Williams put away a big rebound to make it a 5-2 final.