HOUGHTON, Mich. - The No. 18 Lake Superior State hockey team fell by a final score of 4-1 in an afternoon game against the No. 20 Michigan Tech Huskies on Tuesday, Feb. 23 in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).

Michigan Tech took the game's first lead at 18:25 of the first period when Trenton Bliss scored for the Huskies to take a 1-0 lead. Bliss was able to put a rebound past LSSU goaltender Mareks Mitens after he made the initial save on a point shot. 

The Lakers would tie the game at one at 6:58 of the second period when Pete Veillette scored his 50th career point on his eighth goal of the season. With time expiring on a Laker power play, Mitchell Oliver left the puck in the neutral zone for Jack Jeffers to lead the LSSU entry into the offensive zone. Jeffers carried the puck through the faceoff circle before pulling back for a give-and-go with Louis Boudon. Jeffers then faked a shot on goal and instead found Veillette wide open on the doorstep, all alone. Husky goaltender Blake Pietila would not be able to stop Veillette's shot, making it a 1-1 game in the second period. 

Later in the second period, the Huskies would score the eventual game winning goal as Brian Halonen notched a goal for a 2-1 Michigan Tech lead. The goal, which required a lengthy review for goaltender interference on Mitens, would stand.

Before the close of the second period, the Huskies would add two more goals to take a 4-1 lead into the final twenty minutes of the game. Nick Nardella and Alec Broetzman would score the final two goals of the game. 

Mitens finished the game with 32 saves on 36 shots as the senior goaltender gave up more than two goals for only the third time this season. Pietila stopped 33 shots from the Lakers in the game in the Husky win. 

The Lakers will travel to Big Rapids, Mich. for the first game in a home-and-home series against the Ferris State Bulldogs. The two conference rivals will play on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7:07 p.m. at the Ewigleben Ice Arena and the series will wrap up the following Friday, March 6 in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. 

Even though spectators cannot currently attend Laker games, there are still a number of ways that fans will be able to follow the game action. All Laker home games, and away games against WCHA opponents during the 2020-21 season will be available to watch live on FloHockey, the WCHA's streaming partner. For more information or to sign up for a subscription, visit https:/www.flohockey.tv. Fans can also tune in to the radio broadcast on 99.5 Yes FM, the official radio station of Laker hockey.

For more information, visit lssulakers.com.

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