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The Drury men’s hockey team dropped the series finale against St. Louis University by a score of 7-6 on Saturday afternoon at the Jordan Valley Ice Park.
Once again, the Billikens jumped out to an early lead with a goal from Joey Callahan 7:44 into the opening frame. The lead was short-lived with a pair of Drury goals at the midway point of the opening period. First, Ben Johansen finished off a quick passing play from Louis Fournier and Dillon Cowles to score the first power play goal in DU Hockey history. Then 20 seconds later, Labutis finished off a second chance shot in a scrum at the net front from Fournier and Reily O’Connor to put the Panthers up 2-1.
The pace of play picked up in the second period as both teams exchanged goals in an eight-goal middle frame. The Panthers stretched the lead with a power play goal 5:39 into the second period when Xavier Abel found the net off a cross-ice feed from Dillon Cowles and Tyler Sillanpaa. The Billikens answered quickly to cut the lead to a goal on a power play chance then tied the game in 4-on-4 play. The two goals were only 30 seconds apart. SLU then capitalized with special teams at the 8:10 mark of the period with a 4-on-3 power play opportunity on a hattrick goal by SLU’s Nick Corker to go up 4-3. Drury answered shortly after to tie the game 4-4 on a shot from the point by Cowles from Sillanpaa and Abel at the 8:58 mark. The Billikens regained the lead on their third-straight power play goal at the 13:05 mark of the period. Drury tied the game at 5-5 on a blast off an offensive zone faceoff by Johansen from Joey Pachuta with under 5 minutes remaining in the second period. SLU ended the wild frame with a goal in the final 2 minutes to take a 6-5 lead into the second intermission.
Both teams exchanged goals in the third period. The Billikens added a seventh goal 28 seconds into the third period. Sillanpaa made it a one-goal game at the 14-minute mark but the Drury comeback was held back with a strong goaltending performance by SLU’s Keegan Hegger. Drury ended the game 2-for-5 on the power play while St. Louis finished the game 3-for-6. The Billikens held the shot advantage 30-21 over the Panthers.
Once again, the Billikens jumped out to an early lead with a goal from Joey Callahan 7:44 into the opening frame. The lead was short-lived with a pair of Drury goals at the midway point of the opening period. First, Ben Johansen finished off a quick passing play from Louis Fournier and Dillon Cowles to score the first power play goal in DU Hockey history. Then 20 seconds later, Labutis finished off a second chance shot in a scrum at the net front from Fournier and Reily O’Connor to put the Panthers up 2-1.
The pace of play picked up in the second period as both teams exchanged goals in an eight-goal middle frame. The Panthers stretched the lead with a power play goal 5:39 into the second period when Xavier Abel found the net off a cross-ice feed from Dillon Cowles and Tyler Sillanpaa. The Billikens answered quickly to cut the lead to a goal on a power play chance then tied the game in 4-on-4 play. The two goals were only 30 seconds apart. SLU then capitalized with special teams at the 8:10 mark of the period with a 4-on-3 power play opportunity on a hattrick goal by SLU’s Nick Corker to go up 4-3. Drury answered shortly after to tie the game 4-4 on a shot from the point by Cowles from Sillanpaa and Abel at the 8:58 mark. The Billikens regained the lead on their third-straight power play goal at the 13:05 mark of the period. Drury tied the game at 5-5 on a blast off an offensive zone faceoff by Johansen from Joey Pachuta with under 5 minutes remaining in the second period. SLU ended the wild frame with a goal in the final 2 minutes to take a 6-5 lead into the second intermission.
Both teams exchanged goals in the third period. The Billikens added a seventh goal 28 seconds into the third period. Sillanpaa made it a one-goal game at the 14-minute mark but the Drury comeback was held back with a strong goaltending performance by SLU’s Keegan Hegger. Drury ended the game 2-for-5 on the power play while St. Louis finished the game 3-for-6. The Billikens held the shot advantage 30-21 over the Panthers.
This article is provided by Drury University Athletics
