University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
St. Lawrence
Gophers Score Twice Late in OT Tie
10/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Update: Minnesota's first goal at 19:00 of the third period has now been credited to Jack Sadek for the sophomore defenseman's first career goal. Assists on the play went to Jake Bischoff and Mike Szmatula. Additionally, a secondary assist on Minnesota's second goal at 19:37 of the third period has been credited to Bischoff. The game-tying goal now reads Szmatula from Justin Kloos and Bischoff.
CANTON, N.Y. (GopherSports.com) - Mike Szmatula, the only current Gopher to play against St. Lawrence entering tonight's nonconference battle, scored two goals with an empty net in the final minute of regulation as the No. 12 Gopher Hockey program erased a two-goal deficit and tied the No. 18 Saints 2-2 in overtime at Appleton Arena.
A night after the Gophers rallied from a three-goal deficit to beat Clarkson 4-3 in overtime, Minnesota recorded its first tie since Jan. 31, 2015 (a 4-4 overtime draw with Wisconsin in Madison). The tie snaps a Minnesota streak of 10-straight overtime games with a deciding goal.
For 59 minutes, Minnesota (3-2-1 overall, 0-0-0-0 Big Ten) failed to find a way past St. Lawrence goaltender Kyle Hayton before Szmatula put the Maroon & Gold on the board at 19:00 of the third period and then scored again at 19:37 to force overtime.
Szmatula, who entered the game with six points (one goal, five assists) in four career games against the Saints while playing for Northeastern, now has a team-high four goals this season along with six points in his first year on the ice with the Gophers. Jack Sadek set up Minnesota's first goal of the night while Justin Kloos earned an assist on the game-tying goal.
Eric Schierhorn backstopped Minnesota with 22 saves in his first career tie - moving to 3-2-1 on the year.
The Gophers, who outshot the Saints 44-24 on the night including a 32-11 advantage in the first two periods, overcame a two-goal deficit as Ryan Lough scored for St. Lawrence in the opening period and Gavin Bayreuther tallied a short-handed goal in the opening minutes of the third period.
Both teams went 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.
The Gophers return to action next weekend with a two-game series against North Dakota at Mariucci Arena.
-Pride on Ice-
