Laker hockey opens CCHA play with pair of losses to Wildcats
SAULT STE. MARIE — The Lake Superior State hockey program (1-6-1, 0-2-0 CCHA) fell to the Northern Michigan Wildcats (7-5-0, 3-1-0 CCHA) by a final score of 5-3 on Saturday after giving up a two-goal lead in the second period.
Both teams opened the contest feeling each other out with multiple saves from each goaltender, but the Lakers were able to strike first with a goal from sophomore forward Timo Bakos after being set up by Joshua Wildauer and Benito Posa midway through the opening period. The Lakers would then double up their lead a few minutes later after senior captain Louis Boudon made up for losing a faceoff by immediately stealing away the puck and finding Harrison Roy for the score.
The Wildcats were able to get on the board just over a minute into the second period with goal from Artem Shlaine, but the Lakers responded with a shorthanded goal as Dawson Tritt stole the puck in the neutral zone for a breakaway to push the lead back out to two goals. However, Northern Michigan was able to strike quickly as Joey Larson and AJ Vanderbeck combined for two goals within the span of 70 seconds of game time to knot up the score at 3-3 after an action-packed second period.
The Wildcats would take the lead on a power play at the 1:14 mark of the third period. The Lakers would have several quality chances to tie the game, but they were unable to capitalize as the Wildcat goaltender Beni Halasz was ready for all of them before an empty-netter from Vincent de Mey iced the game away.
Despite the loss, Roy has now scored a goal in his last three games, and Boudon is now within two points of 100 for his career. Meanwhile, freshman defender Bryan Huggins finished with the top +/- rating on the team (+2).
On Friday, the Lakers dropped the opening game of the series as Northern notched a 4-1 win over the home Lakers.
The Wildcats were able to get on the board first midway through the opening period with a goal from Zach Michaelis. However, a few minutes later after goaltender Seth Eisele fended off several Wildcat chances, Roy announced his return to the lineup by tying up the game after Jared Westcott stole the puck and quickly got it up to his teammate.
Both defenses battled throughout the second period with each team killing off three penalties during the 20 minutes span. However, NMU was able to retake the lead with an unassisted goal at the 13:14 mark.
The Wildcats would then tack on another midway through the third with a strike from David Keefer before AJ Vanderbeck iced the game away with an empty-netter with just under three minutes remaining.
The Lakers will look to bounce back when they travel to Houghton for a two-game series against the Huskies of Michigan Tech with the first puck drop of game one scheduled for Friday, Nov. 11 at 7:07 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Laker hockey opens CCHA play with pair of losses to Wildcats
