Box Score The smallest guy on the ice had the biggest play of the night. Kevin Novakovich's goal with 7:07 to play stood up as the game winner as Hamline's men's hockey team outlasted Bethel, 5-4, Friday night at Oscar Johnson Arena. 

The win propelled the Pipers to a 4-6-1 MIAC mark (7-9-4 overall) and within two points of St. Mary's for the fifth and final playoff spot. HU, which has 14 points, is only three behind Concordia, owners of fourth place. Both the Cardinals and Cobbers lost Friday night.

Hamline started fast. Mitch Hall's power play goal just 2:51 into the game put HU ahead. Jesse Kessler added a second tally at 9:38 and the Pipers looked on their way. BU had other ideas, though, scoring later in the first period and adding one in the waning seconds of the middle stanza to make it 2-2. 

Kerry McGlynn broke the tie for Hamline early in the third period but the Royals took advantage of a power play to knot the game at 3. Charlie Adams finished off a nice three way play at 10:14 to break the tie for good. Novakovich scored at 12:53 to make it 5-3, a necessary goal when BU, with the goalie pulled, responded at 18:49. 

Hamline tightened from there and the Royals never came close again. HU held a whopping 46-29 edge in shots on goal. Chad Hennum led the assault with 11. 

Adams had a goal and an assist and Brandon Zurn added two assists to keep their average of two points per game afloat. The pair lead all of Division III with 40 points each. It is the first time a Piper has hit that plateau since Dustin Fulton did so in 2007-08. (Fulton finished the year with 50 -- second best in school history). 

The same teams play Saturday night at the National Hockey Center in Blaine. Game time is 7:00 p.m.