Lakers Extend Winless Streak to Six

The Lake Superior State University hockey team fell 3-2 to the lowly Broncos of Western Michigan University in first round action of the CCHA playoffs, in front of a pathetic hometown crowd of just 1335. LSSU is winless in their last six games and and are now 1-6-2 in their last 9 outings. Lake Superior State got out to an early lead with Trent Campbell scoring his team leading 14th goal of the season at 12:20 of the first period, assists when to Troy Schwab and Matt Wheeler. LSSU was unable to maintain the lead, and gave up the game tying goal to Jason Moul less than two and a half minutes later, at 14:49. The Lakers took the lead again at 5:36 of the second period with Nathan Ward scoring on the power play with assists going to Trent Campbell and Troy Schwab. Western’s Brent Walton tied the game on the power play in the closing minute of the second period, scoring his 24th goal of the season. After a scoreless third period, the Lakers found themselves dominated in overtime by the Broncos. Westerns appeared to win the game when Walton found the back of the net in a scramble in front of the net at 5:58 into the first overtime. The disputed goal was disallowed by referee Stephen McInchak, after much discussion with the linesmen and the goal judge. Western’s Paul Szczechura won the ensuing faceoff over Troy Schwab, and Walton rang a shot off the pipe behind Jeff Jakaitis. Western was able to maintain control of the puck and got two more shots off before Walton found the net behind Jakatis. LSSU out shot Western 34-27 for the game, but the Lakers where only able muster 3 shots in the final 10 minutes of regulation and only 2 shots in overtime. Western was 1 for 5 on the power play while LSSU was 1 for 9 with the extra man registering 16 shots in almost 17 minutes of power play time. Lake Superior has not won a playoff series since the 1995-96 season; Western’s win marks the first time that LSSU has fallen to WMU in post season play. If the Lakers want to extend their season beyond this weekend they need to find a way to shutdown Western’s Brent Walton. History is not on the Lakers side, LSSU has never lost the opening game of the playoff series and came back to win the series.