Lakers Power Play Fizzles

The game started with promise for the Lakers drawing a penalty just 5 seconds into the game. Unfortunately the Lakers looked as if they where still suffering from their 3 hour bus ride in the afternoon to get to the game. They gave up an early short handed opportunity to Andrew Contois where Jeff Jakaitis was unable to control the rebound and resulted in an early shorthanded goal going to Dirk Southern with former Laker Contois recording an assist. LSSU spent much of the first 10 minutes of the game on the power play but where unable to connect until, freshman Josh Sim buried one top shelf on former Soo Indian Bill Zaniboni at 11:42, tying the game 1-1. Unfortunately for the Lakers this was all the offense they would be able to muster in the game, in which the biggest star seemed to be referee Mark Wilkins. NMU added power play goals Darin Olver and Jamie Milam at 4:32 of the second period and 15:54 of the third period respectably. The Lakers also committed two checking from behind called again for the second straight game including one by Steve McJannet in the third period which earned him a disqualification. He will not be able to suit up again for the Lakers until November 4th. Over all the game saw 24 penalties called by Wilkins. Thirteen of which where called against the Lakers for a total of 48 minutes and 11 against NMU for a total of 30 minutes. These numbers boiled down to NMU being with the man advantage for just over 15 minutes while the Lakers had to settle for 12 minutes of power play time. "There's no flow in the game," Roque said. "You play one shift five-on-five and then there's a penalty. I couldn't tell you what Walt's team does. I don't know if he can tell what our team does. I think we need to make huge adjustment here (in the CCHA) with our officials and let the kids play hockey. That's all I can comment on, because it wasn't a hockey game." LSSU was able to outshoot their opponite again this season with 28 shots to 24 for NMU. But where out shot 16 to 11 on the power play. LSSU plays NMU Saturday night at the Norris Center.