LSSU makes Second Trip to Ohio this Season to take on Bowling Green in CCHA action

This weekend Lake Superior State University's (4-2-0, 1-1-0 CCHA) hockey team will travel to Bowling Green Ohio to take on Bowling Green State University (2-3-1, 0-2-0 CCHA). LSSU is 2-2-0 on the road this season while Bowling Green is 1-0-1 at home. LSSU is coming off of a sweep this past weekend over American International College while Bowling Green was swept last weekend by Miami and has lost their last three games. Bowling Green was predicted to finish 11th in both the CCHA coaches and media preseason polls. This weekend's match up against Bowling Green will mark the 131st and 132nd times that these two teams have met since 1970. Lake Superior State University has an all time record against BGSU of 57-67-7. Including a 6-5-3 record in their past 14 meetings, last season the Lakers swept the Falcons in Sault Ste Marie. BGSU' offence has struggled early this season with the Falcons averaging 2.50 goals per game. The Falcon's power play is 10th in the CCHA with a 10.8 power play percentage, while Lake Superior State's power play connecting 27.5 percent of the time. BGSU' penalty kill is ranked 7th in the CCHA with a .828 penalty kill percentage, and have been averaging a league low 10.33 penalty minutes a game. The Lakers top ranked power play is has 11 goals in 40 opportunities, with 2 short handed goals against. Nathan Perkovich, Josh Sim, and Jeff Rainville each have 3 power play goals which gives them each a share of first in the CCHA in power play goals. The Lakers penalty kill is ranked 11th in the CCHA, allowing 8 goals in 39 opportunities, for a .795 penalty kill percentage. The Lakers are averaging 3.67 goals per game this season while allowing 2.67 goals per game. Bowling Green is lead by junior forwards Derek Whitmore, Jonathan Matsumoto, while freshman Eddie Neville, and sophomore Jimmy Spratt have spit time in goal. Whitmore has 6 goals and 7 points in 6 games this season, Matsumoto has 3 goals and 8 points in 6 games this season. Last season Matsumoto had 48 points on 20 goals and 28 assists. BGSU's leading goal scorer from last season Alex Foster has split time with the Columbia Inferno of the East Coast Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, after forgoing his final two years at BGSU. Neville has played in 3 of BGSU games this season recording a .915 SV% and a 2.66 Goals Against Average, while Spratt has a .862 SV% and 3.91 GAA in his 4 games this season. Lake Superior has now seen 11 different players score goals this season, with Nathan Perkovich leading the way with 5 goals, third in the CCHA, and 6 points and Josh Sim and Jeff Rainville putting in 4 goals each. Derek A. Smith has recorded 7 assists, 4th most in the CCHA and 13th best in the country, while Troy Schwab has recorded assists on 6 goals. Senior goaltender Jeff Jakaitis and freshman Pat Inglis have shared time in goal this season with Jakaitis going 2-2-0 with a .947 SV%, third in the country, and 2.01 GAA, while Inglis is 1-1-0 with a .877 SV% and 3.54 GAA.