Lakers return home to face the RedHawks
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Two of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s best and most-experienced defenses will match up this weekend at Taffy Abel Arena when 19th-ranked Lake Superior State plays host to Miami.
LSSU, Miami and Alaska are all tied for fourth in the CCHA and 13th nationally in scoring defense, averaging 2.50 goals per game. Miami is seventh at 2.77 gpg and LSSU is eighth at 2.62 gpg in scoring offense.
Lake Superior State (12-9-3 overall, 7-7-2-2 CCHA) returns to the Taffy Abel Arena at 7:05 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Last weekend, the Lakers lost 4-2 and tied 2-2 with 2-1 shootout victory at Michigan. They sit in fourth place in the CCHA with 25 points. Miami is tied for fifth place with Northern Michigan with 24 points. The RedHawks are 11-9-2 overall and 7-7-2-1 in the CCHA.
Earlier this season in Oxford, Ohio, LSSU swept the RedHawks, winning 3-2 in overtime and 5-3. Junior forward Nick McParland (11-7—18) led the Lakers during the sweep with 3-2—5. Domenic Monardo (8-12—20) added 1-2—3 during the series.
At home the Lakers lead the all-time series against Miami, 34-12-4. The Last time LSSU defeated Miami at the Taffy Abel was Nov. 10, 2006 and are 0-5 at home against the RedHawks since then.
Junior defenseman Zach Trotman (6-8—14) netted LSSU’s overtime game-winning goal on Oct. 27, and sophomore forward Kellan Lain (4-3—7) scored the game-winning goal Oct. 28. Lain has two game-winning goals this season and is tied for fifth against CCHA opponents in game-winning goals. Monardo leads the Lakers and is tied for sixth nationally in game-winning goals with four.
Miami’s Cameron Schilling, Alden Hirschfeld, and Tyler Biggs each tallied a goal and an assist during the October series against LSSU. Reilly Smith, who was scoreless against the Lakers, leads the RedHawks in points with 13-5—18.
Monardo is tied for fifth in scoring against league opponents with 7-7—14. He is tied with sophomore teammate Kyle Jean (10-7—17 overall, 8-6—14 CCHA). Jean is tied for second against CCHA opponents in goal scoring, while McParland and Monardo are tied for sixth. Trotman is tied for third in defenseman scoring against league opponents with 3-7—10.
LSSU is ranked third nationally in penalty killing at .892 and is 10th in combined special teams. The Lakers are ranked 57th among 58 teams in penalty minutes, averaging only 8.8 minutes per game. During their last seven regular season games, the Lakers have allowed only one power-play goal to be scored on them.
Laker action will be broadcast live on 99.5 Yes FM both Friday and Saturday night with a free audio webcast on www.yesfm.net. A pay-per-view video feed is available on America One.
