Lakers vs. Wayne State
Lakers take two points with shootout victory at Michigan State
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Lake Superior State took two points in the 2-2 tie and 2-1 shootout victory at Michigan State Saturday at Munn Ice Arena. The Lakers improved to 3-0 in Central Collegiate Hockey Association shootouts this season.
LSSU (13-11-4 overall, 8-9-3-3 CCHA) secured a one-point lead over the Spartans in the CCHA standings. MSU (13-9-4 overall, 8-7-3-2 CCHA) took four of six points during the weekend series, but Lake Superior State won the overall series, 2-1-1-1.
The Lakers started Game 2 of the road series much like they did Friday night, scoring the first goal of the game early in the first period. Freshman forward Chris Ciotti (3-7—10) notched LSSU’s goal at 6:42 on assists from junior forward Domenic Monardo (8-13—21) and freshman defenseman Kevin Czuczman (2-7—9). Michigan State’s Trevor Nill tied the game 1-1 at 7:56 of the first.
The Lakers killed off a five-minute major penalty in the second period. During the penalty kill, LSSU freshman forward Andrew Dommett (0-1—1) drew a penalty shot call when MSU’s Torey Krug tripped Dommett on a break-away. Junior forward Nick McParland (12-8—20) missed the shot wide.
After a scoreless second period, the Spartans took a 2-1 lead on Greg Wolfe's goal at 12:28 of the third period. LSSU senior forward Fred Cassiani (6-10—16) answered at 15:51 of the third. Cassiani’s goal was assisted by sophomore defenseman Zach Sternberg (0-3—3) and forward Dan Radke (2-4—6).
Jean netted LSSU’s first shootout goal, tying it 1-1, while Monardo missed. The Lakers won the shootout 2-1 in the third round with a goal from Radke. LSSU Sophomore netminder Kevin Kapalka (12-9-4-3), made 37 saves, gave up a shootout goal to Wolfe, but stopped shots by Matt Berry and Dean Chelios.
Will Yanakeff (8-4-1) stopped 32 shots for MSU. The Spartans out-shot the Lakers 17-5 in the first period, while LSSU held a 20-10 advantage in the third. The Lakers held a 4-3 advantage in overtime, and one of McParland's shots it the post.
The Lakers were 0-for-2 on the power-play and held MSU to 0-for-4.
Lake Superior State has claimed at least two points during every road series in 2011-12 except one -- the Dec. 2-3 series at Ohio State. The Lakers have a chance to make up for its showing during a Jan. 27-28 rematch against the league-leading Buckeyes, which will be played at Taffy Abel Arena.
