Lakers score three goals in the first and third periods to beat Wildcats
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - Lake Superior State came out victorious Saturday after last night's 2-1 loss to Northern Michigan. The Lakers scored three goals in both the first and third periods to win 6-3 and salvage a split with the Wildcats.
The Lakers are 11-7-2 overall and 7-6-1-1 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. LSSU moved into fourth place in the CCHA after Saturday's victory, breaking Northern Michigan's four-game winning streak. The Lakers, who ended a three-game losing skid, lead the total goals count in the Cappo Cup series, 7-5.
LSSU opened the game with back-to- back power-play goals. Senior defenseman Kyle Haines (2-10--12) scored the first power-play goal at 8:10 on assists from sophomore forwards Kellan Lain (3-3--6) and Colin Campbell (4-7--11).
Sophomore forward Dan Radke (2-2--4) netted LSSU's second power-play goal at 16:20 of the first period. Junior forward Domenic Monardo (9-9--18), who compiled four points for the night and five for the weekend, and Haines assisted on Radke's goal.
Thirteen seconds after Radke's goal, sophomore forward Kyle Jean (9-5--14) gave the Lakers a 3-0 lead. Campbell and freshman defenseman Kevin Czuczman (2-3--5) added the assists on Jean's goal.
After a scoreless second period, NMU scored three goals in the third period, tying the game 3-3. At 15:34, just 44 seconds after the Wildcats knotted the score, Monardo netted the game-winning goal for the Lakers from Radke. Monardo also gave LSSU a 5-3 lead at 16:30, assisted by junior forward Ben Power (1-5--6) and junior defenseman Zach Trotman (6-8--14).
With 21 seconds left in the third period, Jean netted his second goal of the night, an empty-net goal, from Monardo.
The Lakers were 2-for-4 on the power-play and held Northern Michigan to 0-for-4 on the power-play. The Lakers' two power-play goals were scored on what was the league's best penalty-killing team.
Sophomore netminder Kevin Kapalka (10-6-2-1) faced 47 shots on net, making a season-high of 44 saves. NMU's Jared Coreau made 18 saves in the second and third periods, recording the loss. He took over for starting goalie Reid Ellingson.
LSSU and NMU (8-7-3 overall, 5-6-3-2 CCHA) are now tied for 11th in the men's Division I PairWise Rankings.
