Men's ACHA Division II ice hockey used a wild third period comeback to defeat Minnesota 6-5 and earn a sweep of the two-game series Sunday evening at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri.

The Lions and Gophers traded goals twice in the opening frame, with Jack Radley netting the puck just 83-seconds into the game on a play set up by Josh Linn and Bradley Rupp. Minnesota scored a power play goal just over four minutes later for a 1-1 tie, but Eli Roofe took matters into his own hands with an unassisted effort at the 7:48 mark to give Lindenwood a 2-1 advantage. The Gophers tied it again six minutes later and it was 2-2.

That's where the score remained for the rest of the first and most of the second until Minnesota took a one-goal lead with 83-seconds remaining in the period. The Gophers increased their advantage to two goals just 40-seconds into the third, but the Lions were poised for a comeback that started just 39-seconds later when Stanley Lucas sounded the horn with help from Linn and Radley.

It remained 4-3 in favor of Minnesota for the next 10 minutes, but the tide changed after a Gophers high sticking penalty gave Lindenwood a power play. It took until the final seconds of the man-advantage, but Nolan Kahl cashed it in with a goal, assisted by Declan Carter and Chase McClellan at 13:02. With the score now tied 4-4, momentum had changed to the Lions bench. RJ Hart added to the wave at 13:57 when he stole the puck and split the pipes unassisted.

Lindenwood maintained a 5-4 advantage for the next five minutes which forced Minnesota to pull its goaltender. It only took 16-seconds for McClellan to control the puck for the Lions and feed it to Michael Mullen who buried the empty-netter at the 18:53 mark for a two-goal lead. The Gophers did manage to add a power play goal with 22-seconds remaining in regulation, but ran out of time to get any closer.

Lindenwood outshot Minnesota 59-18 and Ethan Paulin-Hatch stopped 13 of the 18 shots he faced to earn the victory in goal. The Lions went 1/5 on the power play while allowing two goals on five man-advantage chances for the Gophers.

With the win, Lindenwood improved to 23-5-0 on the season. The Lions host Miami University (Ohio) in a two-game series February 3-4. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:50 p.m. Friday night and 1:40 p.m. Saturday afternoon at the Centene Community Ice Center.