HANCOCK, Mich. - Marian University men's hockey (14-5-3, 12-4-1 NCHA) extended their winning streak to nine games with a 4-1 win at Finlandia to open a two-game series.

No. 12/14 Marian scored three unanswered goals in the first two periods, which proved to be enough for Mike Baldwin as he improved to 11-2-3 on the year in goal for MU with a 16 save performance.

The first period had a pair of Sabre goals seperated by only 2:08 on the clock to open the scoring.  Scott Milnthorp started the scoring with his fourth goal of the year with assists to Devin Stuermer and Brodie Jamieson before Tanner Pagendam lit the lamp for his fifth score of the year with assists to Nick Monfils and Scott Smoot.

The Sabres dominated the action with a 13-4 shots advantage after the opening period.

Stuermer then tallied his first goal of the game with assists to Jamieson and Derek Thorogood in the only goal of the second period.  MU controlled the pace again with 12 of the 19 shots in the period.

The Lions were able to prevent the shutout with a power play goal at the 7:14 mark to bring the game to 3-1 before an unassisted empty netter from Stuermer clinched the 4-1 victory.  The goal was number 15 on the year for Stuermer and his sixth multi-goal game of the year.

Marian finished the game with a 34-17 advantage in shots.

The Sabres conclude the series with Finlandia tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 6 with a 3 p.m. (CST) puck drop.

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