Box Score Some ties are better than others. Hamline's men's hockey team rallied for four third period goals -- including a rare pur hat trick by Kevin Novakovich -- to tie Lake Forfest at Oscar Johnson Arena. 

Chad Hennum made an impressive debut with a goal and an assist as Hamline improved to 4-4-4 overall on the season.

The Pipers stung the Forresters (7-3-4), who haven't lost a game in two months, early when Brandon Reinholz batted a rebound into the net just 4:39 into the game. The lone score stood well into the second period when the visitors suddenly erupted for four unanswered goals. 

HU was on the power play when the third period started. Hennum, playing his first game for HU, converted a Jaycob McCombs feed at 1:06 to spark hope of a comeback. Lake Forest, however, threw cold ice on this idea with a goal at 3:31. 

Novakovich (11), who ranks second in the league in scoring with nine goals, then went to work. He scored through a screen at 8:02 on a feed from Hennum. Three minutes later, he tapped a loose puck into the net to make it 5-4. 

The Pipers then really turned the heat on the Forresters. Novakovich tied matters (again from McCombs) with 2:23 left in regulation time. HU kept up the pressure the rest of the way, barely missing the winner in the final minute of the period. The junior became the first Piper to get a hat gtrick since Jordan Van Guilder did it against Concordia on February 19, 2011.

Both teams had chances in the extra session. HU had a 4-3 edge in shots on goal in the five minute stganza and finished the game with a 40-30 edge. John Sellie-Hanson had 25 saves in goal for Hamline. 

The Pipers have little time to celebrate the deadlock. They host UW-Stevens Point (11-2), ranked No. 6 in the country, Saturday night at Oscar Johnson. Game time is 7:00 p.m.