"We'll definitely take that one," Pettit said. "I think the best way to turn your season around is to take out the top team."

To add insult to injury, the Crimson forced Saints' coach Joe Marsh to wait until next weekend to pick up his 300th career win.

Clearly the Saints missed the offensive production of Erik Anderson, the league's leading scorer, who suffered a sprained ankle against Brown the previous night. Anderson and linemates Mike Gellard and Alan Fyfe have developed into a potent force, combining for 39 of the team's goals this season. Removing Anderson from the equation, however, kept both wingers pointless on the night.

"Not having Anderson certainly factored into the game," Marsh said. "I think he's the best player in the conference and you could see the chemistry just wasn't there, especially on the power play."

While Anderson's absence didn't help the Saints' power play unit, which is at the top of the ECAC at 29 percent, it was the flawless execution of the Crimson's penalty kill that held St. Lawrence scoreless on eight chances, including a 46 second five-on-three to start the third period.

"Coach Rolston and Coach Leaman had them very well scouted," Mazzoleni said. "Both teams like to move the puck and take one-timers, but we were able to stay in their shot lanes and do a good job of it."

After a scoreless first period, the Crimson's penalty kill unit was the unexpected source of the game-winning goal. Junior assistant captain Pete Capouch rocketed a shot from the left point that junior center Jeff Stonehouse tipped in at the crease at 10:56 in the second stanza.

Stonehouse's goal was the second tally of the period, giving the Crimson a comfortable two-goal lead, the same advantage the Crimson eventually lost to Clarkson the previous night.