MANCHESTER, N.H. – Junior forward Mike Richard (Derry, N.H.) scored his second game-winning goal in five games as the Saint Anselm College men's ice hockey team posted a 3-1 victory over the Pilgrims of New England College Friday evening at Thomas F. Sullivan Arena. With the victory, the Hawks collect their 10th victory of the season to stand at 10-8-3 overall and 5-8-2 within ECAC Men's East play. The Pilgrims even their overall record at 9-9-4 and 6-6-3 within conference play.
Richard's game-winning goal came with only 2:31 remaining left in regulation to power past the Pilgrims late in the third period. Forward Johnny Daniels (Andover, Mass.) intercepted the puck in the neutral zone and carried the puck up ice. A quick shot on net by Daniels was turned aside by Pilgrims goaltender Shawn Sirman. The rebound was kicked over into the right wing corner where it was gathered by Daniels. A quick pass to the right point was collected by defenseman Ryan Holley (Bethany Beach, Del.). His shot on goal was blocked down in front of the goal crease, but Richard lifted a backhander past Sirman for the strike.
Daniels scored his seventh goal of the season to place the Hawks on the board only 37 seconds into the contest. Daniels intercepted an outlet pass by the Pilgrims and created an offensive opportunity along the left wing half-wall. Dropping the puck back to forward Tucker Mullin (Andover, Mass.), he quickly shoveled the puck forward to the still-streaking Daniels who fired a wrist shot on net that beat Sirman for the score.
Niko Oula scored his team-leading 17th goal of the season to place the Pilgrims on the board at 5:29 of the second period, knotting the score at one apiece. Forward Johan Qvarfordt sent the puck up the left wing to a streaking Oula, who eluded the Hawks defense and broke in all alone. Shifting to his right near the left face-off circle, Oula beat Hawks goaltender Robert Kang (Glen Rock, N.J.) five-hole for the score.
Forward John Hyslip (Andover, Mass.) sealed the victory for Saint Anselm by scoring an empty-net goal at 19:34 of the third period to place the Hawks up by a 3-1 margin. With the New England College vacated, defenseman Evan Gogonis (Northboro, Mass.) picked off the puck in the neutral zone and forced it forward to Hyslip, entering the zone up the right side. A flip of the puck near the right face-off circle found its way into the empty cage for the strike, his second goal of the season.
Kang (6-2-1) posted his third-straight victory in net for the Hawks, turning aside 30-of-31 shots on net for his sixth victory of the season. Sirman (5-9-3) drew his ninth loss of the season, halting 21-of-23 shots on goal.
Saint Anselm was 0-for-2 on the power play. New England College was also 0-for-2 with the man advantage.
NOTABLES: Saint Anselm holds the 28-27-1 advantage all-time against the Pilgrims of New England College…Forward Tim King has maintained a 10-game point streak dating back to Southern Maine on Jan. 13, scoring three goals and 14 assists for 17 points (3-14=17) during that span…Forward Mike Richard has recorded six goals and six assists for 12 points (6-6=12) across his last six games…Hawks goaltender Robert Kang boasts a 2.00 goals-against average across his last 179:35, allowing only six goals on 92 shots on net...He is 3-0-0 dating back to a 7-4 victory against Saint Michael's on Feb. 4.
Saint Anselm is in the midst of a home-and-home with New England College, traveling to play the Pilgrims in Henniker, N.H. tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 p.m. in the Lee Clement Arena. Stay up-to-date with the latest news, including game previews and recaps, directly from the Saint Anselm College athletic department by friending us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/STAHawks) and following us on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/STAHawks).
