Box Score OMAHA, Neb. – St. Cloud State beat the No. 7/8 Omaha hockey team, 3-1, on Saturday night at the CenturyLink Center, sweeping their best-of-three NCHC playoff series, 2-0.
The Huskies, who won 2-1 in double overtime on Friday night, advance to the NCHC Frozen Four in Minneapolis, Minn. next weekend while the Mavericks will wait for the announcement of seeds for the NCAA playoffs one week from Sunday.
Trailing 2-0 in the third period, the Mavericks finally solved SCSU goalie Charlie Lindgren during a late power play and with goaltender
Kirk Thompson off for an extra attacker. During a net mouth scramble,
Grant Gallo was shoved into the crease and his skate inadvertently kicked the puck into the goal. After a lengthy video review, the goal, at 16:44, was upheld.
Ian Brady and
Jake Guentzel had assists.
But just 54 seconds later, Joey Benik scored on a wrap-around shot to restore the two-goal lead for the Huskies. Benik finished the weekend with a goal and two assists.
Thompson got the start for the second straight night over senior
Ryan Massa who was injured. Thompson stopped 25 shots. Lindgren made 35 saves in limiting the Mavericks to just two goals all weekend.
St. Cloud State got a five-minute power play late in the first period when
Brian Cooper was given a boarding major and a game misconduct. The Huskies tallied late in the advantage when David Morley tipped in a shot from Ben Storm for his third goal of the weekend at 15:59.
The Huskies doubled their lead in the second period when Joe Rehkamp dug the puck off the end boards and fed it to Nick Oliver who was alone in the slot. He threw a wrist shot past Thompson for his third goal of the season.
The lead could have been greater for SCSU but Thompson stopped Morley with a diving glove save on a shot from the low slot later in the period.
The game was the last for the Mavericks at the CenturyLink Center which served as their home for 12 years. UNO was 128-86-27 all-time there. The Mavericks will move to a new on-campus arena in the fall.
