LSSU Starts February Swing

Lake Superior State University (14-8-6, 10-8-4 CCHA), who after a poor performance against the University of Nebraska-Omaha last weekend saw their national ranking slip to 19th will travel to Ann Arbor this weekend to take on 7th ranked University of Michigan (16-10-3, 11-7-3 CCHA). LSSU is 4-6-3 on the road this season while U of M is 11-4-1 in the unfriendly confines of Yost Ice Arena. LSSU is coming off of a disastrous weekend in Omaha while Michigan is coming back off a split against Ohio State and plays Western Michigan Tuesday night in Kalamazoo. Lake Superior State University has an all time record against Michigan of 44-47-6 including a 4-16-0 record in their past 20 meetings, dating back to 1999. Lake Superior has struggled against teams above .500 this season going 3-7-6 in these games, but have a record of 11-1-0 against teams below .500. Michigan offense has been spectacular this season averaging 3.79 goals per game, first in the CCHA and 3rd in the nation. U or M's power play is connecting at an amazing .209 percentage giving them an average of 1.45 power play goals per game, both tops in the CCHA. U of M's penalty kill is ranked 6th in the CCHA with a .837 penalty kill percentage, and they are the most penalized team in the CCHA averaging 23.86 minutes per game. U of M is currently allowing 3.00 goals per game, ranking them 9th in the CCHA. The Lakers power play is ranked 3nd in the CCHA scoring a goal 18.4% of the time, 33 goals in 179 opportunities. The Lakers penalty kill is ranked 8th in the CCHA, allowing 26 goals in 150 opportunities, for a .827 penalty kill percentage. The Lakers are averaging 2.79 goals per game this season while allowing only 2.14 goals per game, ranked 7th in the nation. Michigan is offensively lead by, T.J. Hensick and Kevin Porter, while Freshman Billy Sauer has played goal in 21 of Michigan's 29 games. Hensick has 11 goals and 28 assists this season for 39 points, Porter has 14 goals and 27 points in 27 games this season. Sauer has recorded a .898 SV% and a 3.01 Goals Against Average. Michigan's defense is lead by Ann Arbor native Jack Johnson who was selected #3 overall in last years NHL draft by the Carolina Hurricanes, Johnson made himself a household name with his physical play at the World Juniors in December. There is a chance this will be Johnson' only season at Michigan. LSSU is lead by junior goaltender Jeff Jakaitis with his NCAA 8th ranked 1.99 goals against average, and 11th in the nation with a 0.926 save percentage. Jakaitis is also ranked fourth in the nation with 1601:17 minutes played this season. The Lakers offensive leader is Trent Campbell who has amassed 10 goals and 20 points this season.