Third period powers St. Cloud State past Miami, 4-2

Friday, February 10

St. Cloud, Minn.

7:37 p.m.

St. Cloud State

14-14-1, 8-10-1NCHC

Miami University (OH)

9-12-6, 5-8-4NCHC

Miami

St. Cloud State

Sophomore Robby Jackson's goal early in the third period proved to be the game-winner.

Photo by: Maddie MacFarlane

2/10/2017 10:51:00 PM | Men's Hockey

Box Score

Goals by Eyssimont, Jackson rally the Huskies to fifth-straight Friday win

By: Ryan Evans

ST. CLOUD—After trading power play goals early, the St. Cloud State men's hockey team (14-14-1, 8-10-1-0 NCHC) scored two-straight in quick order to open the third period to rally past Miami (9-12-6, 5-8-4-2), 4-2, on Friday.

The win continued the Huskies recent Friday mojo, as it was their fifth-straight weekend-opening win. It also vaulted them to 25 league points and, combined with UNO's 7-6 loss to Western Michigan, into sole possession of fifth place in the NCHC—just one point behind fourth place North Dakota.

"Playing a league opponent, this is a tough week," head coach Bob Motzko said. "Every point is hard and everyone is fighting for something."

"I give our guys a lot of credit," he added. "They've had a hard run and we played hard."

Tied at one after two periods, SCSU broke the game open with a pair of goals in the opening moments of the final frame. Sophomore forward Mikey Eyssimont snapped the tie ahead of a tip, and eventual game-winner, by sophomore forward Robby Jackson just 71 seconds later—all within the first 3:46 of the third.

"It went off of my skate. It was a soccer move, but it doesn't matter how, it matters how many," Jackson said of his goal. "We were moving our feet, making plays and we didn't panic with the puck."

After a tightly contested and scoreless first, the RedHawks broke through first, scoring a power play goal just over four minutes into the middle frame. The Huskies response came on a power play of their own as freshman forward Ryan Poehling tipped home his seventh goal of the season with 2:59 to play in the period.

"Coach told me to get to the net because that is where I get my goals at. So that is what I did," Poehling said. "We had to keep working. We knew it was going to be a tight battle. At the end of the year in the NCHC, it is going to be like that."

Poehling finished with a team-high two points. The Lakeville, Minn., native also registered an assist on Eyssimont's tally that gave SCSU its first lead of the night.

Miami notched a second man advantage marker to draw within one with 32 seconds to play, but sophomore defenseman Jimmy Schuldt hit an empty net 19 seconds later to seal the victory.

St. Cloud State wraps up its two-game set against Miami—and looks to avoid its fifth-straight series split—on Saturday, February 10. Game time is 7:07 p.m. at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center and will be broadcast live by Fox Sports North. Tickets can be purchased at scsutickets.com and SCSU Students with a valid university ID will receive free admission. The first 500 fans will receive a Huskies Zubaz stocking cap and hot dogs will be $1 at the concession stands.

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