Hentges scores GWG to lift #9 Huskies over CC in overtime, 4-3

Friday, December 18

Omaha, Neb.

7:35 p.m.

St. Cloud State

Colorado College

Sam Hentges celebrates his GWG vs. CC on Dec. 18

Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann/Omaha Athletics

Hentges scores GWG to lift #9 Huskies over CC in overtime, 4-3

12/18/2020 11:03:00 PM | Men's Hockey

Box Score

The #9 ranked St. Cloud State University men's hockey team (5-3-0, 5-3-0 NCHC) scored four unanswered goals to capture a huge 4-3 overtime victory against Colorado College (2-3-1, 2-3-1 NCHC) at the NCHC pod on Omaha, Neb. on Friday, Dec. 18.

SCSU junior forward Sam Hentges, a Minnesota Wild draft pick, opened the Huskies' offense with a goal in the first period and then won the game with his power play marker in the 3x3 overtime session. Hentges OT heroics capped an epic comeback by the Huskies, which saw SCSU chart four unanswered goals to gain the win. Of note, this marked SCSU's second consecutive OT game and first 3x3 OT victory in 2020-21.

CC charged out early in the contest with a goal at 2:19 by Logan Will to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. At 7:13 of the first period, CC extended its lead to 2-0 with a goal by Josiah Slavin, and then pushed the lead to 3-0 with a goal by Grant Cruickshank at 12:03 of the first.

Hentges then stepped into the scorer's circle with his goal at 16:44 of the first period with assists from Spencer Meier and Zach Okabe.

The two teams battled through a scoreless second period before the Huskies returned to the scoring column with a power play goal by Veeti Miettinen at 5:10 of the third period. Easton Brodzinski and Nick Perbix added assists on the goal, which was Miettinen's third of the season.

Perbix, who completed the evening with one goal and two assists, tied the game at 18:39 of the third period with his team-leading fourth goal of 2020-21. The Huskies had the extra attacker on the ice after pulling their goalie. Assists on the play were added Seamus Donohue and Miettinen. The goal evened the score at 3-3 and forced SCSU's second overtime game in as many outings.

In the OT period, Hentges stepped back into the spotlight with his GWG at 1:37 on the power play. SCSU gained the extra player on ice after CC's Zach Berzolla was called for slashing at 1:22. Hentges' goal was assisted by Perbix and Kevin Fitzgerald.

This marked the first time since Oct. 1, 2017 versus Alaska that the Huskies were able to recover from a three-goal deficit. SCSU was also down 3-0 in that game before coming back to win 6-3. The last time SCSU came back to win after trailing after two periods of play, was a 5-4 OT win vs. Colorado College on Feb. 9, 2019.

In the contest, SCSU outshot the Tigers 27-15 and also outshot CC 17-5 in the third period and overtime period combined. Jaxon Castor was the goalie of record for SCSU with 10 saves and no goals allowed. He came into the game in relief of SCSU starter Joey Lamoreaux, who played the first 12:03 of the game.

On special teams, SCSU was 2-of-6 on the power play and the Huskies were perfect once again on the penalty kill at 3-of-3. Of note, SCSU's PK rate ranks 8th in the nation at 90.6% (29-of-32).

SCSU will now complete its time at the NCHC pod with a 4:05 p.m. game against the University of Denver on Sunday, Dec. 20. Fans can watch the game on NCHC.tv/scsu or MidcoSN. They can listen to the game on The River 96.7 FM and KVSC FM 88.1.