Lakers get off to another hot start against Broncos

KALAMAZOO - Two weeks ago, the Lake Superior State hockey team stormed to a 6-0 lead during the first 24 minutes of its series-opening game against Western Michigan.

On Friday during Game 1 of its Central Collegiate Hockey Association first-round playoff series against the Broncos, LSSU jumped to a 5-0 lead during the first 22:34 of action. The Lakers went on to win 6-3 and take a one-game lead in the best-of-three series.

Game 2 of the series begins at 7:35 p.m. Saturday at Lawson Arena. In other CCHA first-round playoff games Friday, it was: Ohio State 5, Bowling Green State 4; Northern Michigan 5, Michigan State 3; and Nebraska-Omaha 3, Ferris State 0.

Friday's contest was eerily similar to the first regular-season clash between the two teams. The only difference was that, this time, the Lakers and Broncos played in a nearly empty building. Due to spring break, WMU drew only 620 fans for a game televised on FSN Plus.

The Broncos, who have been out-scored 43-20 in the first period of play this season, also repeated history by coming back during the second half of the game. They scored two unanswered power-play goals and had a goal disallowed in the third period. They out-scored the Lakers 4-1 down the stretch on Feb. 20.

Nathan Perkovich scored during LSSU's first power-play chance of the night and gave the Lakers a 1-0 lead at 3:47 of the first period. He shot from the left side of the net, and the puck deflected off a defenseman's skate to beat WMU goaltender Riley Gill. Troy Schwab and Brad Cooper had the assists.

Schwab rebounded Josh Sim's shot and scored to give LSSU a 2-0 lead at 8:26 of the opening period. Matt Cowie made it 3-0 with a long-range shot at 12:01. Tyson Hobbins, who returned to the lineup after missing eight games with an injury, and Dan Barczuk, who missed last weekend's series at NMU due to an injury, assisted on Cowie's second goal of the season.

Lakers Fred Cassiani and Cooper made it 5-0 early in the second period. Sim assisted on Cassiani's goal at the 27-second mark. Brett Wall and Kyle Haines had assists on Cooper's goal at 2:34. It was Wall's first career assist. Cassiani, who is ranked seventh in the CCHA in freshman scoring, improved his season point total to 11-9--20.

WMU's J.J. Crew cut the lead to 5-1 at 4:08 of the second period, but Perkovich answered with another power-play goal at 10:32. Sim was credited with his third assist of the night, while Cowie picked up an assist for his second point of the game.

Broncos Kevin Connauton and Patrick Galivan scored in the third period. Galivan, who was named national player of the month in February, leads the CCHA in scoring with 18-26--44.

LSSU goaltender Brian Mahoney-Wilson totaled 39 saves. Gil, who had 21 saves, left the game after the Lakers went up 6-1. He was replaced by Jerry Kuhn, who totaled 12 saves during the final 29:28.

Both teams were 2-for-5 on the power play. LSSU is 2-7-0 in its last nine games, and both wins were against the Broncos.

Box Score