First-year Colin Winn made 23 saves in goal for the Saints, but a pair of second-period goals from the opposition sent the St. Lawrence University men's hockey team to a 2-0 loss to Alaska Fairbanks on the first night of the Adirondack Invitational at the 1980 Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, N.Y.

St. Lawrence fell to 2-12-1 overall, while the Nanooks improved to 3-8-1.

The first ten minutes of the contest were a back-and-forth effort with both teams struggling to find Grade-A chances.

Things would pick up after the media timeout as both teams were flagged with penalties just 40 seconds apart. Filip Juříček had the best of the chances on the 4-on-4, but Lassi Lehti was able to snare the effort in goal.

There was more 4-on-4 time later in the first as the teams were once again assessed penalties just moments apart. Andrew Brown had a bid saved on the even-up effort, then his classmate Juříček nearly broke the scoring with six seconds left in the period, but saw his shot ring off the post.

Instead, it was the Nanooks that would take the lead a minute and 25 seconds into the second period. William Fleet was the goal-scorer on the play as the forward threw a puck through traffic and in to take the lead.

Fairbanks used the momentum to take the next 11 shot attempts of the period. After the barrage, Jacob Bernadet found himself with some space and a chance to tie the game on the mini-breakaway, but his bid was stymied. The Nanooks countered moments later when Michael Citara mimicked his teammate, firing a shot through numerous screens and in to claim the 2-0 lead at 6:40.

Bernadet once again was behind the Nanooks following the goal, but Lassi came up big with the pad save. St. Lawrence went on the power play shortly after and had a trio of shots from Tyler Cristall that were steered away from the Nanook goal.

The line of Cristall, Cooper Pierson, and Rasmus Svartström were buzzing and creating chances the rest of the second, but the Saints went into the break down 2-0.

The Saints went back on the man-advantage at the beginning of the third period, but despite some good looks, came up empty again. St. Lawrence would proceed to go on the penalty kill twice in the third period, slowing down their comeback efforts.

The Scarlet and Brown pulled their goal for the extra attacker with 2:37 left in the third, but only got one chance on the goal from Sam Frandina, which was stopped by Lassi. Frandina also kept it a 2-0 game in the final moments as a William Lawson-Body chance on the open cage was blocked by the defender.

Winn made 23 saves in the effort, while Lassi came up with 19 in the shutout.

Both teams came up empty on the power play, with the Saints going 0-for-5 and the Nanooks going 0-for-4.

St. Lawrence will be back on the Herb Brooks Arena ice tomorrow at 4 p.m. when the team takes on UMass Lowell on day two of the Adirondack Invitational.