MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. – Forward Alex Niestrom’s two goals in the final three minutes gave the St. Thomas men’s hockey team a hard-fought, 4-2 victory over Gustavus Friday night at a packed St. Thomas Ice Arena.

The first-place Tommies (17-3-2, 11-0-2) came into Friday’s matchup one point ahead of the second-place Gusties (13-5-4, 10-2-1) in the MIAC standings. The win put St Thomas four points ahead in the conference going into Saturday’s rematch in St. Peter.

“(This win) is huge,” forward Tyler Gubb said. “We have a chance to win the MIAC championship tomorrow with another regulation win.”

Forward Jordan Lovick got the scoring started for the Tommies midway through a very physical first period when he redirected defenseman John Kirtland’s slap shot past the Gustie goaltender.

“Statistically when Gustavus scores first, they’ve won 14 games, I believe,” coach Jeff Boeser said. “I think that was pretty pivotal to get that first goal and help our guys believe.”

Both teams managed a goal in the second period: forward Connor McBride netted an unassisted goal for the Tommies, and Gustavus forward Corey Leivermann snuck one past the Tommie goaltender Drew Fielding with 1:28 left in the period.

Leivermann continued the scoring when he buried his second goal of the game 4:16 into the third period.

The physicality continued throughout the game, wearing down both teams as the 2-2 game progressed deep into the third period.

“We knew it was going to be a battle,” Boeser said. “They’re a good hockey team, and we just had to stay together and be patient.”

With 2:16 remaining in the game, forward Alex Niestrom was the benefactor of tough play by captain Tyler Gubb, which led to Niestrom scoring the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal.

“I have to give all the credit to him. He made a great play, and I just benefitted from it,” Niestrom said.

With 22 seconds left in the game, Niestrom scored again on an empty net to seal the victory for the Tommies.

Goalie Drew Fielding said the final stretch was exactly what hockey is all about.

“Those are the kind of situations you play hockey for,” Fielding said. “It was incredible when we scored, a big weight off everybody’s shoulders.”

Friday’s win extends the Tommies’ winning streak to seven games.

The Tommies are back in action on Saturday against Gustavus in St. Peter and will finish the regular season next weekend against St. John’s University before the MIAC playoffs.

Scott Sikich can be reached at siki3549@stthomas.edu