SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s hockey team hosted its first home game of 2022 and took a 5-4 overtime win against St. Olaf after a third period scoring frenzy. The three goals in thirty seconds was an impressive feat for fans on Tuesday night, but fell short to the 3 goal sequence record that happened in just 19 seconds when the Gusties played the Oles on Dec. 7th, 1977.
The non-conference win improves Gustavus 4-8-2 overall and 0-3-1 in the MIAC, additionally the Gusties gave the Oles their first loss in their last five games.
The Gusties couldn’t get much going in the beginning as St. Olaf took a one goal lead in the final minute of the first period.
Similar to the first, Gustavus had opportunities in the second period but couldn’t convert. The Gusties picked up the pace, outshooting the Oles 12-6 in the middle frame continued to trail 2-0.
Gustavus came out full force into the third. At 5:37 Tyler Ebner (Sr., La Crosse, Wis.) rolled out at full speed around the corner and fired a wrist shot to the top left of the net with Connor Clemons (Sr., Savage) credited on the assist to cut the deficit in half.
Just two minutes later, St. Olaf responded to take back a 3-1 lead.
Not shying away from the battle, at 12:17 with commotion in front of the net, Nick Klishko (Sr., San Diego) was able to poke the puck in as it trickled over the goal line to bring back the score to a one-goal game.
Keeping the Gustie adrenaline going, 11 seconds later Klishko left a drop pass for Clemons to snipe a a five hole equalizer goal.
Rolling the momentum, just 19 seconds after tying the game Klishko made a switch up play to the net passing to Mason Etter (Sr., Grafton Wis.) before Kyle Heffron (Fy., Rosemount) tapped in his first collegiate goal for a 4-3 Gustie lead.
The Oles retaliated with a final power play goal, forcing the game into a sudden death overtime.
46 seconds in, Gustavus went on a three-on-one play when Brandon McNamara (Fy., Andover) dished a pass from the right side, connecting with Klishko before a final shot to Etter for the exhilarating 5-4 Gustie overtime win.
Jackson Hjelle (So., Delano) was credited with the win, making 11 saves.
Gustavus hosts Concordia on Friday at 7:00 and Saturday at 7:00 when they resume conference play before traveling to St. Olaf to close the postponed non-conference series.