Lakers Losing Skid Reaches 7 Games

On Friday night, LSSU failed to score during a five-minute power play late in the third period, but cut a two-goal MSU lead in half when Rick Schofield scored at 19:41 with goalie Brian Mahoney-Wilson out of the net and an extra attacker on the ice. Troy Schwab and Matt Cowie drew the assists. Mahoney-Wilson stayed on the bench during the final 19 seconds, but this time the Lakers (2-10-1 overall, 0-7-0 CCHA) couldn't muster a game-tying goal. Michigan State (9-3-2 overall, 5-2-0 CCHA) jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first period on power play goals by Bryan Lerg at 14:06 and Chris Mueller at 19:52. Spartan Michael Ratchuk assisted on both goals. MSU's Nick Sucharski made it 3-0 with an even-strength goal at 3:16 of the second period, while Matt Schepke picked up his second assist of the game. LSSU goal-scoring leader Nathan Perkovich tallied his eighth goal of the season at 10:39 of the second period during a Laker power play. He chipped in a rebound off Steven Kaunisto's initial shot, and Carter Lee drew an assist for his first point as a Laker. The Lakers' play during the final 40 minutes was their best second and third-period performance in five games. They out-scored the Spartans 2-1 and out-shot them, 21-11. Mahoney-Wilson totaled 19 saves, including nine in the first period and 10 during the final 40 minutes. MSU goaltender Jeff Lerg totaled 25 saves, including 12 in the second period and seven in the third. The Lakers were 1-for-4 on the power play, while MSU was 2-for-5. Saturday night, Michigan State's Michael Ratchuk scored the game's first goal at 17:34 of the first period. LSSU freshman Rick Schofield tied it, 1-1, with a power-play goal at 7:01 of the second period. Zac MacVoy and Simon Gysbers drew assists. MSU's Tim Crowder scored a power-play goal at 10:01 of the middle stanza, but Laker Nathan Perkovich answered with an even-strength goal 35 seconds later. Dillin Stonehouse and Troy Schwab assisted on Perkovich's ninth goal of the season and second of the series. MSU's Tim Kennedy scored the game-winner at 15:02 of the second period. Bryan Lerg's goals were scored at 2:32 and 11:39 of the third period. Matt Schepke assisted on both Lerg goals. MSU goaltender Jeff Lerg totaled 24 saves, while Pat Inglis had 36 saves for the Lakers in his first action in the past 14 days. The Spartans were 2-for-8 on the power play, and LSSU was 1-for-4. Lake Superior State picked up two penalties during the final four and one-half minutes, which thwarted attempts to score with an extra attacker. MSU out-shot LSSU 19-5 in the third period.