The St. Thomas men’s hockey team had to rally for a 4-3 overtime victory to avoid being upset by Lake Superior State in the opening game of the CCHA Mason Cup quarterfinals on Friday night at the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena in St. Paul.

Caige Sterzer and Ryan O’Neill staked the second-seeded Tommies (19-11-5) to a 2-0 lead after one period. However, the seventh-seeded Lakers (11-21-3) stormed back for three goals in the middle frame.

The score remained 3-2 in favor of the visitors until O’Neill recorded his second tally of the night at 11:50 of the third to send the game into overtime, where Chase Cheslock saved the game for the hosts with the game-winning tally at 7:51 of the first added session.

St. Thomas goalkeeper Carsen Musser made 22 saves, while Lakers netminder Rorke Applebee was busy with a 36-save performance.

The two teams take the ice for Game 2 at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Anderson Arena. If necessary, a deciding Game 3 is slated for 5 p.m. Sunday.

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