Lakers face Buckeyes in first round of playoffs

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State plays host to Ohio State in a best-of-three Central Collegiate Hockey Association first-round playoff series, which begins Friday at Taffy Abel Arena.

Friday’s game will have a 7:36 p.m. start and be broadcast live on the CBS College Sports Network. Saturday’s game with have a start time of 7:05 p.m. If a game three is needed, the puck will drop at 7:05 p.m. Sunday. All Laker playoff games will be broadcast live on 99.5 Yes FM.

CBS College Sports airs on Direct TV 613 and Dish Network 152.

The Lakers (10-15-9 overall, 8-12-8-5 CCHA) place eighth in the CCHA, while playoff opponent Ohio State (15-16-4 overall, 10-14-4-2 CCHA) was ninth.

The Lakers are hosting playoffs for the first time since the 2006-07 season when they defeated Ferris State, two games to one. The Lakers continued their playoff run by sweeping Miami on the road and making it to Joe Louis Arena for the CCHA semifinals.

The Lakers lead the all-time series against Ohio State, 70-55-10, with an all-time home record of 42-26-4. During the last three home match-ups between OSU and LSSU, the Lakers have a record of 3-3-0. Both teams compiled 22 goals during those six contests at Taffy Abel Arena.

The Buckeyes are 0-5-1 during their last six road games. OSU was swept by Michigan and Alaska, while Western Michigan defeated and tied the Buckeyes, WMU won the shootout 2-1. The Buckeyes rounded out regular season play with a home tie, shootout loss, and loss to Ferris State Feb. 24-25.

LSSU and OSU tied 1-1 and won a shootout, 1-0, on Feb. 18 in Columbus, Ohio. The Lakers lost 5-2 on Feb. 19. Senior forward Will Acton (8-13—21) had a goal and an assist, and senior defenseman Matt Cowie (4-13—17) notched two assists to lead the Lakers at OSU in February. Cowie totaled 0-7—7 to lead the Lakers in points during the month of February.

Ohio State’s points leader John Albert (12-22—34) totaled 1-1—2 against the Lakers, while Sergio Somma (19-14—33) tallied 1-2—3 during the Feb. match-up.

LSSU points-leader senior forward Rick Schofield (14-16—30) needs one more point to reach the 100-point career scoring milestone. He heads into the first round of CCHA Playoffs with 48-51—99. Only one other Laker, Troy Schwab (’09), has accomplish that feat during the past decade.

Schofield, with 4-6—10, is tied for sixth in the CCHA in power-play points when playing against league opponents. Cowie, with 1-8—9, and sophomore forward Domenic Monardo, with 2-7—9, are tied for 11^th.

Freshman goaltender Kevin Kapalka (9-10-8-5) is third in the CCHA in save percentage (.928), sixth in goals-against average (2.16) and tied in seventh in win percentage (.500) when playing against league opponents. Kapalka is second among freshmen behind Michigan State’s Will Yanakeff, but has appeared in 24 CCHA contests compared to Yanakeff’s 10. Kapalka is 13^th nationally in save percentage (.922) and 20^th in goals-against average (2.34).

First round playoff ticket prices are $11 for adults, $6 for children 18 and under, and $5 for LSSU students.