Senior center Rich Peverley scored two goals and assisted on a third and junior goaltender Mike McKenna registered his third shutout of the season as St. Lawrence upset 13th-ranked Brown 4-0 Friday night.
The Saints improved to 11-17-5 overall and 7-10-2 in the ECAC while Brown slipped into a first-place tie with Colgate and is now 14-7-5 overall and 12-5-2 in the ECAC.
St. Lawrence was a perfect seven for seven on the penalty kill against the league’s top power play and scored two power-play goals in six chances against Brown’s league-leading penalty kill.
“That was without question the best game we have played all season … maybe in the last couple of seasons,” said Saint coach Joe Marsh. “Our intensity was there from start to finish and special teams play was excellent.”
The Saints broke on top 5:51 into the game as freshman Kyle Rank tipped a power-play shot from the point by defenseman Ryan Glenn past Brown goalie Yann Danis. The goal was the first for the Saints against Danis in a span of six periods, as he posted a shutout in the first meeting this season and also in the second game of the 2002-03 campaign.
“The goaltending was outstanding at both ends of the ice,” said Marsh. “It was good to finally get one past Danis and to get it fairly early. He can get you thinking too much if you give him half a chance. Mike McKenna continued his outstanding play for us at our end. He didn’t make as many saves as Danis, but he made some huge ones at key junctures.”
Perhaps the biggest save by McKenna came on an early Brown power play when he slid across and robbed Cory Caouette on a one-timer. McKenna also had a breakaway save on Brent Robinson in the second period.
St. Lawrence caught a break just 15 seconds into the second period for a 2-0 lead. Freshman defenseman Drew Bagnall shot the puck wide, but as Danis went to play it, he got caught behind the net and the puck popped in front where Peverley tapped it into the empty net for his 12th of the season.
Peverley scored his second of the game 1:53 into third period on a five-on-three power play to give the Saints a 3-0 lead, and senior defenseman Jeremy Cormier completed the scoring with his third of the season at 3:45.
