OMAHA, Neb. – Freshman
Isaiah Saville made 22 saves to earn his first career shutout, and five different players scored as the Omaha hockey team earned a 5-0 win over Colorado College on Friday at Baxter Arena.
The Mavericks snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 13-13-5 overall and 7-9-3-0/0 in the NCHC, good for sixth place. The Tigers dipped to 10-17-2 overall and 3-14-2-0/1 in the conference putting them eighth.
The Mavericks blew open a tight game with four goals in the third period. Leading 1-0,
Martin Sundberg doubled the lead when he grabbed a loose puck in the slot, wheeled and fired a wrist shot just inside the left post at 2:28.
Noah Prokop made it 3-0, batting a deflected pass from
Ryan Jones past goalie Matt Vernon at 6:58 for his second goal of the season.
The crushing blow came just 36 seconds later.
Kevin Conley, battling for position at the side of the Tigers' net, jammed home the rebound of a shot by
Nate Knoepke to make it 4-0.
Brandon Scanlin finished the scoring at 13:53, working a give-and-go with
Chayse Primeau before whipping home his third goal of the season.
The Mavericks helped Saville protect the shutout down the stretch, allowing the Tigers' just five shots in the third period.
Omaha scored first for the first time in six games on a brief power play late in the first period.
Jason Smallidge took a pass from Conley and fired home a shot from the top of the slot at 16:49.
The two teams finish the series on Saturday at 7:07 p.m.
GAME NOTES:
- Both Primeau and Brushett finished the night with two assists while Conley had a goal and an assist to lead the Mavericks in points.
- Smallidge's goal was his first career game winner.
- Scanlin's goal was his first since scoring a power play goal against Wisconsin on Nov. 8.
- The Mavericks improved to 6-6-3 at home this season and 2-4-3-0/0 at home in conference play.
- Omaha was 1-for-5 on the power play while holding Colorado College scoreless in five chances.
- The shutout was the second of the season for the Mavericks. The other came on Oct. 12 against Alabama Huntsville.
Three stars: 1.
Isaiah Saville/Omaha (22 saves); 2.
Jason Smallidge/Omaha (Game-winning goal); 3.
Kevin Conley/Omaha (1-1-2)