After a disappointing loss of 2-4 against CCHA rival Northern Michigan University (putting NMU at 4-9, 3-8 CCHA) on the road, Laker hockey players looked to rebound at home and get their first win in conference play this season. The Lakers have struggled early this year and have amassed only 2 wins out of the 11 games they had played, and are still winless in the conference, which is almost a complete turnaround from last year when they were 8-5-1 and 3-4-1 in the conference at this time in the season and finished at 21-19-3.

Throughout this season uncertainty has surrounded the goaltending matter with both goalies not playing up to expectations. Sophomore starter Pat Inglis, and ninth round entry draft pick of the San Jose sharks Brian Mahoney-Wilson have shared starts this season. Wilson is atop Inglis with a .894 save percentage compared to Inglis’s .84. Brian Mohoney-Wilson also has a far superior 2.96 GAA as opposed to Inlgis’s 4.3. The stat that matters though is the win-loss-tie stats and Mahoney-Wilson has played one less game than Inglis and has one more loss. Both have won only 1 game, and Brian got the start.

The game started fast as the only Laker goal was scored on a power play 5:27 into the first period by Laker point leader (10 points) Dan Eves, whose forward line with Rick Schofield and Zac MacVoy extended their goal scoring streak to 4 games.

The goal was countered by Mark Oliver on the power-play from Dan Eves tripping in the closing minute of the first period. The Lakers went into the first intermission tied at 1.

The seven penalties in the second period, 3 for the Lakers, was a testament to the physicality of the NMU-LSSU rivalry. Chad Nearing was called for two penalties in the second half, about three minutes apart. Through the flurry of penalties, Wilson held his ground and stopped all six shots, two of them on the penalty kill, to keep them game tied at 1.

NMU freshman forward Greg Hanson scored his third goal of the game which gave the Wildcats the lead and eventual win. He was assisted by Matt Butcher.  Less than two minutes later the Wildcats third and final goal was scored by Mark Oliver, his second of the night, which gave the NMU Wildcats the win over the Lakers 3-1.

Though there were some downsides, LSSU won 13 more face-offs than NMU.

Lakers fall to 0-6 in the conference with the number sixth ranked Michigan State coming to the Taffy Abel arena the thirtieth. The last time these two teams met was last year when the Lakers traveled to East Lansing and lost both games in the two game series, 3-2 in OT and 4-0.

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