WINONA, Minn. – A career-high 55 saves for sophomore netminder
Travis Allen backed by
Jack Bayless' third-period power play goal lifted the Bethel University men's hockey team to a 3-2 series opening win at Saint Mary's Friday evening.
Allen was a brick wall form the start with 23 saves in the opening period. BU had limited chances on frame in the first but
Sam Wilhite capitalized with 42 seconds left before the intermission sending the Royals into the locker room up 1-0.
In the second, BU had killed off its third power play of the night until Bayless would be whistled for slashing at the 12:10 mark. The Cardinals evened up the score 27 seconds into their man advantage.
Four minutes later the Cardinals went up 2-1 with under four minutes to go in the second.
A pair of holding penalties against each team with 2:31 left led the teams to skate 4-on-4. The Royals took advantage of the extra space to work its offense as
Braeden Bartoo evened it at two goals each with 49 seconds left on the clock.
Allen finished exactly how he started, strong between the pipes. His 16 saves in the third kept Saint Mary's off the board. Bethel went on the man advantage with 6:23 remaining in the game.
The special teams wasted no time as Bayless got a feed from
Dane Stoyanoff scoring five seconds into the power play and putting the Royals ahead for good.
The Royals killed off another penalty late in the third before SMU brought on an extra skater. During the final 2:10, Allen made four big saves preserving the BU victory until the final horn.
Allen's 55 saves is the most by a Royal goaltender since Jesse Garcia's 56 saves against Hamline back on January 28, 2017.
Bethel (14-9-1, 7-7-1 MIAC) closes out the regular season against Saint Mary's (7-13-1, 4-7-0) tomorrow night at Bethel University Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
