Second-ranked St. Cloud State scored four goals in the third period, including two by Patrick Newell, to lead the Huskies past Colorado College, 5-3, Friday night in the NCHC opener at the Broadmoor World Arena.
The Tigers held a 2-1 lead entering the third period despite getting outshot 18-1 in the middle 20 minutes. Newell tied things up at 2-all with a power-play goal at the 8:51 mark, but CC’s Cole McCaskill, playing in his first game of the season, scored on a wrist shot from the top of the left circle at the 9:23 mark to put the Tigers ahead, 3-2.
Easton Brodzinski tied the game with a power-play goal at 12:53 of the third, then Newell scored the game winner with 3:26 remaining and Ryan Poehling notched his second of the game with a short-handed empty-net goal with 1:24 left in the game.
The Tigers (4-2-1, 0-1 NCHC) came out strong in the first period and scored twice against SCSU goalie David Hrenak. Tanner Ockey opened the scoring with his first goal of the season at the 9:03 mark. Trevor Gooch found Ockey from the end boards and Ockey had a wide open net. Zach Berzolla also assisted on the play.
Nick Halloran made it 2-0 with a power play goal with 49.4 seconds remaining in the opening frame. Hrenak made a save on Kristin Blumenschein’s shot from the top of the slot, but the puck went right to Halloran at the left circle and he deposited it in the back of the net.
The Huskies clamped down the Tiger offense and dominated the second period, and Poehling cut the Tiger lead in half at the 11:18 mark after taking a pass from Nolan Walker.
Leclerc was spectacular in the second period, making 17 saves, including a point-blank shot by Newell right in front of the net with four minutes left in the period. Leclerc then made 13 saves in the final period for a total of 36.
After putting eight shots on net in the first period, the Tigers recorded just seven in the final 40 minutes.
“We played great in the first period,” head coach Mike Haviland said. “They came out ready to go in the second but we still had a 2-1 lead. We have to find a way to win that game.”
Hrenak finished with 12 saves as the Huskies improved to 6-1 overall and 1-0 in the NCHC.
The teams complete the two-game series Saturday, Nov. 3 beginning at 6 p.m.
