LSSU to host Bowling Green in CCHA action

The Lake Superior State University (12-7-5, 8-7-3 CCHA) hockey team will play host to Bowling Green State University (12-14-1, 8-11-1 CCHA) this weekend at Taffy Abel Arena. LSSU is 8-2-3 at home this season while Bowling Green is 3-6-1 on the road. LSSU is coming off of a loss and tie this past weekend at Ferris while Bowling Green split with Michigan and are 9-4 in their last 13 games. LSSU currently has 19 points in the CCHA while Bowling Green has 17 points in conference play. The LSSU – BGSU match up will pit the Falcon’s high flying offence against LSSU’s stellar defense. This weekend’s match up against Bowling Green will mark the 129th and 130th times that these two teams have met since 1970. Lake Superior State University has an all time record against BGSU of 55-67-7. Including a 4-5-3 record in their past 12 meetings, last season the Lakers split with the Falcons at Bowling Green. BGSU’ offence has been spectacular this season with the Falcons averaging 3.70 goals per game, good for second in the CCHA, and 4th in the nation. The Falcon’s power play is tied for 18th in the nation, with Lake State, with a .185 power play percentage. BGSU’ penalty kill is ranked 9th in the CCHA with a .815 penalty kill percentage, and have been averaging 20.04 penalty minutes a game, 7th in the CCHA. The Lakers power play is ranked 4th in the CCHA scoring a goal 18.5% of the time, 30 goals in 162 opportunities. The Lakers penalty kill is ranked 7th in the CCHA, allowing 21 goals in 127 opportunities, for a .835 penalty kill percentage. The Lakers are averaging 2.75 goals per game this season while allowing only 1.96 goals per game, ranking them 5th in the nation. Bowling Green is lead by, sophomore forwards Alex Foster, Jonathan Matsumoto, while Senior Jon Horrell, and Freshman Jimmy Spratt have spit time in goal. Foster has 32 assists this season and 40 points, Matsumoto has 14 goals and 35 points in 35 games this season. Horrell has played in 17 of BGSU games this season recording a .906 SV% and a 3.05 Goals Against Average, while Spratt has a .828 SV% and 5.10 GAA in his 11 games this season. LSSU is lead by junior goaltender Jeff Jakaitis with his NCAA 7th ranked 1.88 goals against average, and 11th in the nation with a 0.927 save percentage. Jakaitis is also ranked fourth in the nation with 1376:17 minutes played this season. The Lakers offensive leader is Trent Campbell who has amassed 8 goals and 17 points this season. LSSU’s team defense is rated 5th in the country only giving up an average of 1.96 goals per game this season.