SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State scored six goals during
the first 24 minutes of Friday's Central Collegiate Hockey
Association game at Taffy Abel Arena and went on to beat
Western Michigan 7-4.
WMU (9-17-7 overall, 6-13-6-2 CCHA) and LSSU (10-15-8 overall,
7-12-6-2 CCHA) entered the series in ninth and 10th place,
respectively, in the league standings. With the win, the Lakers
vaulted ahead of the Broncos and remained in contention for a
top-eight CCHA finish.
Nathan Perkovich and Dan Barczuk both contributed a goal and two
assists to lead LSSU. Seven different players scored for the
Lakers.
Perkovich, Barczuk and Josh Sim tallied even-strength
goals to give Lake Superior State a 3-0 lead in the first
period. Kyle Haines, Zac MacVoy and Carter Lee made it 6-0 with
three goals during a 1:43 span early in the second period. MacVoy's
goal was a power-play marker, while Lee's was his first of the
season.
As LSSU ended a four-game losing streak, several players snapped
goal-scoring droughts. Barczuk and Sim both scored their first goal
in seven games. Chad Nehring, who ended the Bronco's
comeback surge by scoring the Lakers' seventh goal at
10:09 of the third period, tallied his first goal in nine games.
Prior to Nehring's goal, Western Michigan scored four goals
during a 6:37 span early in the third period, cutting LSSU's lead
to 6-4. WMU was 2-for-2 on the power play during that stretch and
2-for-5 for the game. LSSU was 1-for-4 with the man advantage for
the night.
In addition to Perkovich and Barczuk, LSSU's Fred Cassiani also
contributed two assists. Troy Schwab, Brad Cooper, Simon Gysbers,
John Scrymgeour, Will Acton and goaltender Pat Inglis had one
assist each.
Inglis totaled 16 saves and earned the win, but was replaced by
Brian Mahoney-Wilson after Bronco Patrick Galivan scored WMU's
fourth goal at 9:28 of the third period. Mahoney-Wilson, making his
first appearance since suffering an injury at Bowling Green State
on Jan. 24, stopped all five shots during the final 10:32.
WMU starting goaltender Riley Gill was pulled after MacVoy made
it 5-0 at 3:39 of the second period. Gill totaled 13 saves,
while Jerry Kuhl allowed two goals and had 17 saves during the
final 36:21.
Galivan had a goal and an assist, and Max Campbell added two
assists to lead the Broncos.
LSSU out-shot WMU, 37-25.
LSSU plays its final regular-season home game at 7:05 p.m.
Saturday against WMU. Following the game, Laker fans will pay
tribute to seniors Schwab, Sim, Lee and Steven Oleksy.
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