Box Score

CANTON, N.Y. -- A three-goal third period would prove to be the difference as the Cornell men's hockey team dropped its ECAC Hockey opener on Friday night at St. Lawrence, 3-0, at Appleton Arena in Canton, N.Y. Cornell falls to 0-3 on the year, while St. Lawrence improves to 1-4-3 overall.

Junior goaltender Mike Garman made 30 saves in taking the loss for the Big Red on the night, with 14 of those saves coming during the third period alone. Cornell was scoreless in its three power-play attempts of the evening.

Justin Baker had a goal and an assist for the Saints, while Kyle Flanagan and Jeremy Wick both added a goal. Matt Weninger made 29 saves in net for the victory. St. Lawrence finished the night 1-for-8 on the power play.

Following two scoreless periods of play, the Saints caught a lucky break when the Cornell, already killing off a penalty against Dustin Mowrey, was whistled for a slashing call against Sean Collins, setting up a 5-on-3 for 1:04. During that 5-on-3, Cornell's penalty killers kept the Saints to just one shot, but it was Flanagan's wrist shot from just off the goal line that rang off the underside of the crossbar and into the net that would prove to be the eventual game-winner at the 6:47 mark of the period. 

With Cornell pressing to tie the game, the Saints added an insurance goal at the 14:31 mark of the period when Sean Flanagan worked the puck around the back of the Cornell goal and fed Baker alone in the slot, and his one-timer slipped through the legs of Garman to make the score 2-0.

Garman came to the bench for an extra skater with 1:45 to play in the game, but the Saints' Jeremy Wick deflected in a shot for the empty-net goal that would seal the game's final margin.

Cornell returns to action on Saturday night, seeking to gain a split from the North Country weekend when it travels to Clarkson's Cheel Arena for a 7 p.m. contest against the Golden Knights.