ECAC Hockey

CANTON, N.Y. – The Colgate men’s hockey team scored two goals in the opening minutes of the third period, but the early 3-0 lead by St. Lawrence proved to be the difference in a 4-2 loss for the Raiders in game one of the ECAC Hockey First Round series.

Colgate (14-17-4) got power play goals from Kyle Buan and Tylor Spink, while Spiro Goulakos added two assists in his return to the ice after missing last weekend. Tylor Spink ended up with two points on the night as he assists on Baun’s goal. Eric Mihalik made 24 saves in the loss.

St. Lawrence (17-14-4) earned the 1-0 series lead after three goals in the first period. Patrick Doherty led the way with a goal and assists, while George Hughes had two helpers. Gunnar Hughes and Jeremy Wick also scored and Greg Carey added his nation’s leading 27th goal. Matt Weninger made 29 stops to earn the win.

The Saints went on top with 11:07 left in the first with a goal from Doherty on a rebound off of a Sean McGovern shot. McGovern through the puck towards the net from the point and Mihalik stopped it with his glove, but couldn’t close it. Doherty was right in front of the Colgate netminder for the cleanup.

Colgate did have some offensive chances with 13 shots on net, but Weninger made all the stops. The best chance came from Kurtis Bartliff and it was a couple of minutes after the Saints got the early lead. He broke into the zone from the right side and fired a wrister that beat Weninger, but rang off the post.

St. Lawrence then opened up a 3-0 lead with two goals in the final minute. Gunnar Hughes gave the home team the 2-0 lead with 50 seconds left with assists to George Hughes and Patrick Doherty. The Saints had a very efficient breakout of their zone that results in an odd-man chance. George Hughes dropped the puck for his brother Gunnar and he one-timed past the glove of Mihalik.

Jeremy Wick then gave St. Lawrence the 3-0 advantage with five seconds left in the first frame. The Raiders couldn’t get the puck out from behind its own net and Kyle Essery stole it and fed it out to Wick and he put it home.

In the second period, the Saints increased their lead on their first power play chance of the night. The goal came with nine minutes left in the frame. St. Lawrence had good puck movement and it ended up on the stick of Carey. The junior hasn’t missed much on the power play as he leads the nation with 13 on the year. He didn’t on his second shot of the man advantage. Kyle Flanagan fed the puck to Carey from the slot and he fired a wrister at the right faceoff dot and it got past Mihalk for the 4-0 lead.

Colgate was able to get two back in the first 3:16 of the third with both goals coming on the power play. The first was a nice redirection in front from Baun on a slap shot by Goulakos from the high slot. Goulakos and Tylor Spink were given helpers on the play with the goal coming 55 seconds into the final period to make it 4-1.

Under two minutes later, the Cornwall power play unit struck again with Tylor Spink dangling in front of Weninger and hitting an open net. Mike Borkowski made an excellent play at the half boards to get the puck to Goulakos in the slot. The defensman moved around a Saint and found Tylor Spink in front. The rookie had so much time, he was able to make a couple moves and tucked it past Weninger. The goal cut the lead to 4-2 with 16:44 remaining.

Colgate pulled the goalie with just over two minutes left in the game, but couldn’t score and the game ended in a 4-2 loss for the Raiders to give the Saints the 1-0 series lead.