LSSU Takes Home Opener Over Canisius

LSSU Lakers Ben Power (#22) and Canisius Griffins Chris Barrea (rear) chase a loose puck into the corner during the third period of the Griffins 5-4 loss to Lakers Friday night in Sault Ste. Marie, MI.

With the score even at four goals a side in the third period it looked like there was a chance that the fifth meeting of the Lake Superior State Lakers and the Canisius Griffins could have ended regulation play the same as the previous four, tied. That was until almost eight minutes into the period when the Lakers Brad Cooper put in the winning goal giving LSSU a 5-4 home opener win over their non-conference foes Friday night in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Canisius Griffin goalkeeper Dan Morrison (#30) prepares for a shot from a charging LSSU Lakers Will Acton (#21) during the second period of the Griffins 5-4 loss to Lakers Friday night in Sault Ste. Marie, MI.

The Lakers came out charging hard in the first period at times looking like they were on a continuous power play keeping the Griffins on their heels and outshooting them 14 to 5. LSSU went into the locker room at the first intermission up by two with goals from Tyson Hobbins and John Scymgeour.

Canisius Griffins Cory Conacher (19) gets congratulated by the Griffins bench after scoring his third goal of the second period against the LSSU Lakers Friday night in Sault Ste. Marie, MI.

The Lakers drew first blood less than two minutes into the second when Brad Cooper scored the first of his two goals for the night but the Griffins Cory Conacher and Vince Scarsella took over the scoring from there. Conacher managed to get by Lakers netkeeper Brian Mahoney-Wilson three times in the period with assists from Scarsella on each giving him a hat trick and evening the score at three with just under four minutes left in the period.

LSSU’s Domenic Monardo beat Canisius goal tender Dan Morrison less than a minute into the third and put the Lakers up 4-3. Just over six minutes later the Griffins Ryan Klusendorf scored from between the face off circles to tie the score for the second time of the night. Less than forty five seconds later Brad Cooper scored his second, and the game winner, from just outside the goal crease.

LSSU Lakers goalkeeper Brian Mahoney-Wilson during third period action of the Lakers 5-4 win over the Canisius Griffins Friday night in Sault Ste. Marie, MI.

Canisius averaged over nine penalties per game in their first two outings of the year but with only three penalties handed out to Canisius and two to LSSU during the course of the game power plays were not a big factor for either team. Canisius goaltender Dan Morrison faced a total of 38 shots while the Lakers Brian Mahoney-Wilson was challenged only 17 times.

Canisius Griffin Carl Hudson (#2) gets his feet taken out from under him by a sliding LSSU Lakers Zac MacVoy (right) during the closing minutes of the Griffins 5-4 loss to Lakers Friday night in Sault Ste. Marie, MI.

The Lakers and Griffins will face off again tonight, Saturday, to complete their two game series at 7:05 p.m. at LSSU’s Taffy Abel Arena.