Box Score Last Friday, Charlie Adams fired seven shots on goal in the first period of a game at Concordia to no avail. A week later, he unloaded eight shots at the St. John's net ... with much better results.

The freshmen forward scored four times -- including the gamewinner with 2:18 remaining -- as Hamline outscored the Johnnies, 6-5, at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud. HU vaulted into fourth place with 19 points in the very crowded battle for playoff position in the MIAC.

Chad Hennum scored the other two goals in the hectic game that saw five goals scored in a seven minute span in the third period. 

Adams' outburst gave him the team lead and moved him to third place in the MIAC in goals with 12. After he opened the scoring 6:07 into the game, Hennum came back nine seconds later to make it 2-0. SJU evened the count with a tally late in the first and one in the first minute of the middle period. Adams and Hennum paired up again -- this time 10 minutes apart -- to give Hamline a 4-2 lead entering the final 20 minutes. 

Things really got interesting in that final frame. After SJU scored at 10:30, Adams completed his hat trick at 13:44 to make it 5-3. SJU responded with a pair of goals 91 seconds apart to tie the game at 5 and raise the specter of overtime. 

But Adams was having none of it. He scored the slot 40 seconds after the Johnnies had tied the game. John Sellie-Hanson, who recorded 40 saves, stayed firm after that and the Pipers had the win. HU is now 9-7-4 overall, 5-3-3 in the MIAC. With 19 points, the Pipers trail third place Concordia by two points. They are one point ahead of Augsburg and the Johnnies and just three ahead of Gustavus. With a win in regulation or OT being worth three points, each victory looms large.

The Pipers and Johnnies clash again Saturday night at Oscar Johnson. Game time is 7:00 p.m.