Men's Hockey 1/17/09 -- St. John's 2, Augsburg 1

MINNEAPOLIS (1/17/09) -- Pat Connelly (SR, Birchwood, Minn./White Bear Lake HS) scored both St. John's University goals, including a power-play game-winner four minutes into the third period, leading the Johnnies to a 2-1 win and a series sweep of host Augsburg College in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's hockey action on Saturday night at the Augsburg Ice Arena.

Seventy-four seconds after Augsburg's Chris Johnson (JR, Verona, Wis./Madison Memorial HS) tied the game at 1-1 on a power-play goal from Joel Sauer (SO, Madison, Wis./Memorial HS) at the 2:46 mark of the third period, Connelly put the Johnnies ahead with a power-play goal from Brent Brodersen (SO, Shakopee, Minn.) and Clayton Rehm (SR, Park Rapids, Minn.) at the 4:00 mark.

Connelly scored his first goal of the game at the 15:23 mark of the second period for St. John's (5-11-1 overall, 2-5-1 MIAC), assisted by Nick Roscoe (FY, Eau Claire, Wis.) and Grant Ellena (FY, Coon Rapids, Minn.).

Augsburg (3-12-0 overall, 2-4-0 MIAC) outshot St. John's by a 29-27 margin in the contest, but could only convert one power-play goal in 10 extra-skater opportunities in the game, including a stretch of 4:44 of continuous power-play action in the third period with two 5-on-3 opportunities. Meanwhile, St. John's was 1-for-3 on its power-play opportunities in the game.

Andrew Kent (SR, Lakeville, Minn.) claimed 25 saves in goal for the Auggies, while Vince Wheeler (SR, Clearwater, Minn.) had 28 saves for the Johnnies.

Augsburg returns to action next Friday and Saturday (1/23-24) with a series against Gustavus, while St. John's is idle next weekend and returns Jan. 30-31 with a series against Gustavus.