Box Score Sometimes, a loss can be turned into a win. That is what happened to the Hamline men's hockey team, The Pipers ran into a hot Gustavus Adolphus goalie and took a 3-1 loss at Oscar Johnson Arena Friday night. The day turned out to have some positives because when St. John's lost at Augsburg, it meant that Hamline's 26 points is enough to clinch a playoff spot for the third season in a row. 

The Pipers have 26 points on a MIAC mark of 7-5-3 (10-9-5 overall). Concordia is one point behind HU with a 7-6-2 league standard. As they did last season, the two schools will play a first round game against each other -- this time on Thursday, February 23. The only question is where the game will be played. A HU win on Saturday at Gustavus would mean the game would definitely be at Oscar Johnson Arena. However, should the teams tie for fourth, Concordia holds the tiebreaker. 

On Friday night at Oscar Johnson, the Pipers fell into a 2-0 hole in the first period. Cody Bentzel got Hu back in the game when he rapped a rebound home 2:10 into the second period. HU controlled the rest of the period, firing 21 shots on goal but could not get the equalizer. A power play goal early in the third period gave GAC a 3-1 lead and that proved to be enough. Hamline finished with 38 shots on goal, led by Brandon Wahlin, who had five. HU goalie Justin Quale had 37 saves, stopping shots in double digits in each period. 

The rematch is set for Don Roberts Arena in St. Peter Saturday night at 7:00 p.m.

The Pipers have now qualified for the MIAC playoffs eight of the past 10 seasons.