A two-goal lead in the third period slipped away, and Lindenwood came back to beat Lake Superior State 5-4 on Friday night at Taffy Abel Arena.

Reagan Milburn's goal early in the third put the Lakers (2-1) up 4-2. But Charles Savoie scored twice to bring the game level for the Lions (1-2), and Jacob Fletcher scored the winner with just under four minutes remaining in regulation.

"I think they deserve credit," said Laker head coach Damon Whitten in his postgame interview on 99.5 YES FM. "They defended really hard. I thought we generated a lot of good looks. They block shots. You talk about toughness and competitiveness, they weren't afraid to get in front of pucks and eat some hard shots."

Branden Piku had a big night for the Lakers, scoring a goal at 18:09 of the first period. With the Lakers down by a goal, Piku scooped the puck up in the neutral zone and attacked hard up the left wing. His shot was stopped by Liam Beerman, the Lions netminder, but just found its way through and trickled over the goal line. Piku picked up his first strike in his junior season. Whitten was pleased with the winger's play in the weekend opener.

"Piku was kind of the model of the game tonight. You've got to be heavy. You've got to be competitive on pucks, protect pucks and make them defend. We need more guys playing like [Piku] did tonight."

Tied at two for much of the second period after a Connor Milburn goal, the Lakers notched a pair on either side of the second intermission. Wilson Dahlheimer scored his second of the young season on a deflected shot from Adam Barone. Piku registered an assist, his second point of the night. Barone thought he'd scored his first career goal initially, but replay confirmed Dahlheimer's deflection.

Then Reagan Milburn put the Lakers up 4-2 early in the third, the type of gorgeous goal that fans of classic hockey video games have loved for years. Picking the puck up in the left corner, the younger Milburn wrapped around the net, popped out from the right side on his forehand, walked unopposed to the low slot and buried his first goal of the year. Milburn blossomed as a scorer last season and looked in prime form with a stellar strike to give the Lakers a two-goal advantage.

But they couldn't hold on to that lead. Charles Savoie scored twice, with his first coming on a wraparound goal banked off a defender. The second was shot wide by Adam Raisler from the hashmarks. Careening off the end boards, the puck hopped back to the goal mouth before Savoie poked it home.

Fletcher's winner came on another bouncing puck. A shot from the point was blocked, ended up on Fletcher's stick and was promptly deposited into the Lakers net.

Late in the contest, Lions defenseman Brady Mortensen was assessed a five-minute major with a game misconduct for hitting from behind. The Lakers had chances on the powerplay, which began as a 5-on-3 due to a prior Lindenwood penalty. But Beerman made some quality stops, and the Lakers were held off the board.

A great crowd came to the home opener at Taffy Abel Arena. Opening faceoff for Saturday's weekend finale is set for 6:07 PM, with pregame set for 5:35 PM on YES FM and Midco Sports Plus. Buy your tickets online or at the Norris Center Box Office.