The Middlebury men's ice hockey team tallied three goals in a span of 9:01 in the opening period and never looked back in a 7-0 victory over in-state foe Saint Michael's on Tuesday in Chip Kenyon '85 Arena. Jackson Morehouse led the charge with five points (3G, 2A), the most a Panther has scored in a contest since December 1, 2012.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Purple Knights looked to get on the board 2:06 into the contest. David Ciancio fired a bid that was guided aside by the blocker of Panther netminder Conor Sullivan.
• Middlebury took the lead about three minutes later. Revy Mack sent a cross-ice pass to Morehouse. After collecting the puck, Morehouse found a cutting Matt Myers on the doorstep, slicing a shot that slid past Saint Michael's goaltender Evan Plunkett for a 1-0 lead.
• The Panthers jumped on the power play after the Purple Knights were called for a penalty and took advantage of the chance, extending their lead at the 7:48 mark. Bobby May fired a wrister that sailed just inside the left post to make it 2-0.
• Middlebury tallied its third goal with 5:29 remaining in the opener. A faceoff win for Dante Palombo bounced right to Jake Oblak. The captain never hesitated, ripping a shot in between the faceoff circles that slipped past Plunkett for a 3-0 lead.
• Saint Michael's tried to find a spark on consecutive attempts by Jack Bavis and Danny Keegan about nine minutes into the second stanza. Sullivan stood tall in the net, stopping both chances. 
• The Panthers cashed in another score with 9:26 elapsed. Reece Brednich forced a turnover deep in the Purple Knights' defensive zone and found a cutting Morehouse for his first of the game and a 4-0 advantage.
• Saint Michael's had a strong chance with 5:01 remaining. Ciancio raced down the right side of the ice and wristed a shot that bounced off Sullivan's chest and back into open ice. The Panthers cleared the puck and avoided a rebound attempt.
• Morehouse closed the period with his second at the 16:29 mark, taking a pass from Dimitri Tzaferis and weaving through three defenders before finishing in the lower-right portion to make it a 5-0 game.
• Saint Michael's nearly found the score sheet with 13:32 left in the third on a snipe by Moseley Schwartz from inside the left faceoff circle. Sullivan tracked the puck and blocked it aside.
• Middlebury tacked on two more goals from Morehouse and Mack later in the period for the 7-0 victory.

NOTES

• Morehouse tallied his second career hat trick.
• Mack put together his third multi-helper contest of the year.
• Tzaferis skated in his first game as a Panther and grabbed his initial point as a Panther.
• Sullivan stopped 17 shots to secure his first shutout and victory.
• The Panthers and Purple Knights met for the 39th time.

Middlebury hits the road for three-consecutive contests beginning with a showdown against Plattsburgh State on Friday at 7:00 p.m.