BOX SCORE

CANTON, N.Y.  (2/17/12) – St. Lawrence built a 3-0 lead on three power play goals and the Colgate men's hockey team fired back with a pair of goals, but ran out of time in the end as the Saints held on for a 3-2 win on Friday night.

The Raiders (17-11-3, 11-6-1 ECAC) got goal No. 33 from Austin Smith, which was his sixth power play goal of the season and seventh in the last four games. Chris Wagner had a two-point night with a goal and an assist, while Spiro Goulakos ended the night with a pair of helpers. Eric Mihalik made 23 saves in net, but took the loss.

St. Lawrence (13-15-3, 9-9-1 ECAC) won its fifth-straight game thanks to three points from Greg Carey and Kyle Flanagan. Each of them scored a power play goal, while Justin Baker had the other score. Matt Weninger made a couple of good saves down the stretch and 19 total in the win.

St. Lawrence took a 1-0 lead early in the first after Colgate went down by two men. Flanagan put home a rebound on the back side. Carey took a shot from the high slot that was saved by Mihalik, but the rebound came to the opposite side and Flanagan hit the open net for the lead with 11 minutes left in the first. The Saints capitalized on another power play opportunity as Flanagan and Carey hooked up again. This time it was Carey getting the goal from the slot and beat Mihalik glove side to make it 2-0 with less than three minutes left in the opening frame.

Baker gave the Saints a 3-0 lead 6:40 into the second period on another power play goal, this one coming on a five-minute major. Flanagan and Carey were given points on the play with assists as Carey put a shot on net that Mihalik saved, but Baker put home the rebound for the third power play goal of the night.

Smith was able to get one back on Colgate's second power play of the night. Goulakos found Wagner at the endline and he looked for Robbie Bourdon at the opposite post. The puck was redirected to Smith in the slot and he buried it for his 33rd of the season to make it 3-1 with 7:38 left in the second. Smith extended his goal-scoring streak to four games. Smith almost scored again as he was left alone in front for a 1-on-1 chance with Weninger. He beat the St. Lawrence netminder but rang the puck off the post.

Wagner cut the lead to 3-2 with five minutes left in the game with his 12th of the season and his 40th point of the year. He received a pass from Joe Wilson and sniped a shot from the slot that beat Weninger's glove. Goulakos was given an assist on the player for his second of the night. The Raiders pulled the goalie in the final minute, but got two shots on net that Weninger pushed aside to keep Colgate off the board and earn the 3-2 win.

The Saints got seven power play opportunities, including a five-minute major and scored all three goals with the extra man. Colgate found the net once on the advantage on four chances. St. Lawrence won the shot battle with a 26-21 advantage.

The Raiders will not be far from Canton tomorrow as they head to Potsdam, N.Y., to take on Clarkson at 7 p.m. at Cheel Arena.

NOTES: With Wagner reaching 40 points, Colgate has two 40-point scorers for first time since 2005-06 … the last time the Raiders had a 29-assist skater was Jesse Winchester '08 in 2007-08 … Wagner had his 29th tonight … first time in the last five games that Colgate didn't score first … first time this season Colgate has allowed three power play goals … Smith has seven goals during his four-game scoring streak … moves into sole possession of fifth on the all-time single-season scoring list … tied for ninth in career goals with Mike Houle '83 with 76 scores … at the conclusion of the game he doubled-up the second-place goal scorer in ECAC Hockey games with 24 goals in league play.