After a rough previous series with St. Lawrence (4-4-2, 4-4-2 ECAC Hockey), the Quinnipiac Bobcats (11-5-3, 5-3-3 ECAC Hockey) outscored the Saints 4-1 to take sole possession of first place in ECAC Hockey.

Both the Bobcats and the Saints proved to be matched in their offenses and defenses as the first period went scoreless. Quinnipiac led in shots on goal to bring it to the second period.

Halfway through the second, Logan Britt tapped the puck in past St. Lawrence goalie Emil Zetterquist to grab the first goal of the game and his third of season.

Just two minutes after the goal by Britt, junior Michael Lombardi slammed one into the net to bring the Bobcats to a 2-0 lead with eight minutes left in the period. The great individual effort was his second goal of the season.

“We practice taking puck to the back post and not just trying to take a shot there,” Lombardi said.

Matthew Fawcett proved that two was not enough as he rocketed the puck past Zetterquist to bring the Bobcats to an even larger 3-0 lead to finish up the second period. This was the sophomore forward’s second goal of the season, and second career tally.

Associate head coach Bill Riga talked about what these three and their goals meant to the team.

“We’re always hoping for it,” Riga said. “When (the) top line shuts down, we need guys to step up and those are guys that have the skill and certainly are able to do that.”

“Ethan de Jong made a great breakout pass. I just went down the middle and Desi Burgart just kind of put it on my tape, so he made it easy for me,” Fawcett said.

Left scoreless after the second, the Saints were able to put one up on the board from first-year Greg Lapointeto bring the score within two for St. Lawrence.

The Saints’ physicality was an obstacle for the Bobcats, who took several big hits from the Saints in the contest.

“(The Saints) compete very hard,” Riga said. “They come out and compete, battle, play physical and hit. Tonight, we saw that. We need less finesse and more battle, getting involved physically and not just making it effort.”

One goal was not enough for the Saints, as de Jong sealed the deal with an empty net goal to bring the Bobcats to a 4-1 lead with just two minutes left in the third. It was his ninth goal of the year, bringing him one shy of tying a career-high. The win brought the Bobcats to first in ECAC Hockey with an 11-5-3 record.

“That passion (the Saints) play with … they get up and believe in themselves,” Riga said. “We need to match that again tomorrow night and I think correct some things we didn’t do well”

“We just have to recover,” Fawcett said. “We have to hydrate and stretch and come back with physicality and bring our speed.”

Quinnipiac will play St. Lawrence again on Saturday in hopes of a weekend sweep.

🚨FINAL🚨

The Bobcats take the win tonight over St. Lawrence 4-1! pic.twitter.com/pru9w0yIsw

— Quinnipiac Bobcats Sports Network (@QBSN) February 5, 2021