The Lake Superior State University men’s ice hockey team got a pair of power-play markers just 57 seconds apart to erase a 2-1 Bemidji State University lead early in the third period and take the opening game of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association series, 3-2, at Sanford Center.
Special teams play was the name of the game Friday. In addition to the Lakers’ 2-for-3 performance on the power-play, Bemidji State netted a goal on the man advantage and posted its first short-handed goal of the season in the game.
The Lakers jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the 9:25 mark of the first period. Andrew Perrault fired a shot on goal from the point and BSU goaltender Andrew Walsh (Jr., Dawson Creek, British Columbia) was unable to secure the rebound. Colin Campbell flipped the pic to Alex Globke who buried his sixth goal of the season.
The Beavers got the break they needed in the final two minutes of the period. LSSU’s Bryce Schmitt was whistled for tripping with 90 seconds left in the period providing BSU with its first power-play opportunity of the evening. Forty seconds later, Erick Drapluk joined Schmitt in the penalty box putting BSU on a 5-on-3 advantage for the final 50 seconds of the frame. BSU was unable to convert. However, it took BSU just 32 seconds into the second period to find the back of net. Ruslan Pedan (D, Fr., Moscow, Russia) ripped a shot from the top of the left face off circle and Cory Ward (F, So., Las Vegas, Nev.) deflected the shot in front of the net for his seventh goal of the season. Danny Mattson (F, Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.) was credited with an assists on the power-play goal.
BSU’s special teams struck again at the 11:30 mark. With Radoslav Illo (F, Sr., Bystrica, Slovakia) in the box for tripping, forward Mitch Cain (Jr., Fort Frances, Ontario) stole the puck at the LSSU blue line skated into the BSU zone and left the puck for Matt Prapavessis (D, Jr., Oakville, Ontario). The BSU caption fired a laser from the top of the slot and beat the Lakers’ goaltender Kevin Kapalka for his first goal of the season. The short-handed tally was not only the first of the season for BSU, it marked the Beavers’ first shorty since Ben Kinne scored short a down Jan. 19, 2013 versus Michigan Tech.
The Beavers took a 2-1 advantage into the final period of play–a position BSU has not failed in six previous games this season (4-0-2), but time in the box would doom the home team.
James Hansen (D, So., Maple Grove, Minn.) and Graeme McCormack (D, So., Thunder Bay, Ontario) were both whistled for penalties during the first four minutes of the period, supplying the Lakers with one minute and 11 seconds of 5-on-3 time. LSSU would get a goal off the stick of Stephen Perfetto 21 seconds later (3:57). With McCormack still in the box, Colin Campbell would break the 2-2 tie with another power-play for the Lakers at the 4:54 mark.
BSU got the opportunity it needed in during the final five minutes of play as Ian Miller was tagged with a major penalty. The Beavers odds got even better when a second Laker was sent to the box with 4:42 to play. The penalty put BSU in a 5-on-3 situation for a full two minutes. However, 1:37 into the power-play, Jeff Jubinville (F, Sr., Edmonton, Alberta) was called for hooking and the Beavers’ momentum slid off the ice.
BSU finished the night 1-for-5 on the power play and failed to convert on a pair of 5-on-3 opportunities.
Walsh finished the night stopping 23 of 26 LSSU shots and allowed all three Laker goals. He falls to 4-7-2 on the season.
The Beavers (4-7-2; 4-4-1 WCHA) and Lakers (7-3-1; 3-2-0 WCHA) wrap up the WCHA series tomorrow evening. The opening face off will take place at 7:07 p.m. at Sanford Center.