Duluth, MN - The Saint Scholastica men's hockey team took on the Cardinals of Saint Mary's University for the second time this weekend following their 5-1 win last night. Tristan Shewchuk (Saskatoon, SK, Canada/St. Joseph HS) was able to break the deadlock in the second period to score the first. The Saints would go on to go on a scoring spree of four goals, all of which being in the third period; those contributing were Matej Palfy (Kosice, Slovakia/Gymnasium Trebisovska), Gavin Gunderson (Roseau, Minn) with two, and Brodie Girod (Clavet, SK, Canada/Clavet HS) to secure yet another 5-1 win.
How it Happened
1st Period
The Saints came out strong in the first period, applying immediate pressure as Nathan Adrian (Roseau, Minn./Roseau HS) fired off a shot just 20 seconds into the game.
Evan Pahos (Parker, CO) added to the offensive push with two attempts at 6:54 and 7:08, but the Cardinal's goalie stood firm. Jacob Seitz (Mountain Iron, Minn./Virginia HS) also came close to breaking the deadlock at 8:34 with two rapid-fire shots, both of which were saved off the line.
At the other end, Saints goalie Eino Rissanen (Sonvillier, Switzerland/Lycée Blaise-Cendrars) was a wall in net, making ten saves to keep Saint Mary's off the scoreboard.
Wyatt Wurst (Edina, MN) was another player who had back-to-back shots for the Saints this period at 13:47, but was again denied.
Seitz had yet another crucial breakaway chance at 16:26 to take the lead, but was just held off the line as the Saints continued to knock at the Cardinal's door.
Despite outshooting the Cardinals 15-10, the Saints ended the first period locked in a 0-0 stalemate.
2nd Period
The Saints carried their momentum into the second period, with Sam Olson (Duluth, Minn/Cloquet HS) taking the first shot on goal.
Tristan Shewchuk (Saskatoon, SK, Canada/St. Joseph HS) and Hunter Hanson (Blaine, Minn./Blaine HS) each fired back-to-back attempts in the fifth and sixth minutes, but the Cardinal's goalie held firm.
Defensively, the Saints faced pressure of their own, with the Cardinals creating several opportunities, including a shot that struck the post in the 11th minute.
At 14:41, Shewchuk finally broke the deadlock on a power play, giving the Saints a 1-0 lead with an assist from Evan Pahos (Parker, CO).
The Saints were then followed up with a heavy run of shots from the Cardinals, including some off a power play, but Rissanen was able to successfully keep the clean sheet for the period.
The second period ended with the Saints leading 1-0. Despite the Cardinals ramping up their offensive efforts, outshooting the Saints 18-13 in the period, they were unable to find an equalizer.
3rd Period
The Saints were faced with heavy pressure in the third period, and were forced to be on the defensive for the opening four minutes of the period.
However, the Saints were able to increase their deficit on their opportunities provided to secure a more confident position. At 7:25, Matej Palfy (Kosice, Slovakia/Gymnasium Trebisovska) scored the second for the Saints and was assisted by Braden Panzer (Grand Forks, ND) and Gavin Gunderson (Roseau, Minn). Just 9 seconds later at 7:34, Gunderson was able to get a goal of his own after assisting Palfy to increase the lead to 3-0. Gunderson was assisted by Panzer again and Declan Young (Fergus Falls, Minn./Kennedy Secondary School).
The Cardinals were able to get their first goal of the game off of a power play at 11:11 to make the score 3-1.
Saint Mary's continued to push for goals to close the gap to get back in the game, but Rissanen held firm yet again with an excellent performance today.
Gunderson got his second goal of the night at 16:19 to increase their lead yet again to 4-1, and was assisted by Riley Girod (Calvet, SK, Canada) and Olson. Less than a minute after at 17:10, Brodie Girod (Clavet, SK, Canada/Clavet HS) got his goal and was assisted by Hanson and Jack Fuss (Edina, Minn./Edina HS). Shortly after the Saints got a power play opportunity to make it six but was not able to score again.
Rissanen completed the game with a total of 44 saves to take a 5-1 win against the Cardinals of Saint Mary's.
Top Performers
Eino Rissanen (Sonvillier, Switzerland/Lycée Blaise-Cendrars) - Eino had an excellent performance this afternoon and was able to secure the win for the Saints by only letting one goal against the Cardinals. He registered a total of 44 saves throughout the game. He tallied the most saves in the second period with 18.
Gavin Gunderson (Roseau, Minn) - Gunderson had a phenomenal afternoon, getting an assist for the second goal for Palfy, and going on to score the third and fourth goal for the Saints to inspire a blowout victory over the Cardinals.
Braden Panzer (Grand Forks, ND) - Panzer had the second highest points of the team, and provided two assists to lead the winning charge. Panzer assisted the second and third goals for the Saints.
Up Next
The CSS men's hockey team (11-9-1, 6-6-0 MIAC) will hit the road on Friday, February 7 heading to Northfield, MN for another conference game against the Ole's of St. Olaf College. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
