Lakers score important CCHA sweep

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI -- Although Lake Superior State Lakers coach Jim Roque says his team does not want to focus on the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings, he also admits that it's something that is on the minds of his players heading down the stretch.

The Lakers headed into their weekend series, on home ice at Taffy Abel Arena, against Bowling Green in a three-way tie for fourth spot in the CCHA standings.

When all was said and done, the Lakers found themselves in second place behind the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks and one point ahead of Northern Michigan and Michigan State, both of whom have played more games than the Lakers.

The University of Michigan, who currently sits two points behind the Lakers, are the only CCHA team to have played less games than the Lakers 20.

With an opportunity to score some valuable points in the standings, the Lakers managed to score a sweep over Bowling Green as they defeated the Falcons 6-1 on Friday night and 4-2 on Saturday.

On Friday night the Lakers scored a pair of goals in each period to cruise to a 6-1 victory. Dominic Osman led the Lakers, in being named the game's first star, by scoring a goal and picking up a pair of assists.

Troy Schwab scored a pair of goals for the Lakers while Colin Nicholson, Derek R. Smith and Nathan Ward also scored for the Lakers. Brandon Svendsen scored the lone Bowling Green goal.

Lakers goaltender Jeff Jakaitis stopped 27 shots in the victory.

Saturday night saw a better effort from Bowling Green as the Falcons kept the game tight for much of the night before the Lakers scored a pair of third period goals to pick up the 4-2 win and a series sweep.

Nicholson scored a pair of goals, including a shorthanded marker in the first period, while Trent Campbell and Jon Booras also scored for the Lakers. Campbell also picked up an assist in the win. Jakaitis again had a solid game, stopping 32 shots.

Svendsen and Derek Whitmore scored for Bowling Green, who saw their record drop to 8-13-1 with the two losses.

"(Our players) played really hard from the drop of the puck (Friday night)," said Roque. "Obviously Bowling Green played harder (Saturday). They had a lot more effort which I expected from them (Friday night) but they didn't have it. It's always good to win games like (Saturday's). It was a 2-2 game going into the third period. As you get down the road and into the playoffs they're going to be tight games."

One important thing heading into the Bowling Green series was how the Lakers would handle the Falcons duo of linemates Alex Foster and Jonathan Matsumoto, whoare among the CCHA's top scorers and among the nations leaders in points by linemates.

"It's called Ren Fauci and Kory Scoran," said Roque. "They were out there every shift against those guys the whole weekend. They did a phenomenal job. Every time we've asked them to go up against opposing teams best players those two guys have got it done. They did a great job. We didn't care which line was out against them as long as those two guys are out against them."

Roque went on to comment on his group of junior classmen – which includes the likes of Campbell, Osman and Derek R. Smith. He was pleased with their play on the weekend and added that it is a group that is relied upon to chip in offensively.

The Lakers control their own destiny for the most part for the rest of the regular season. Next up are a pair of road games against Nebraska-Omaha on Feb 3 and 4. The following weekend are another pair of road games, this time in Ann Arbor, Michigan as the Lakers take on the University of Michigan.

The Lakers then proceed to play a home-and-home series with Northern Michigan on Feb 17 in Sault Ste. Marie and Feb. 18 in Marquette. The Lakers wrap up their CCHA regular season schedule with a pair of games against Michigan State on Feb. 23 at Taffy Abel arena and Feb. 25 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

*** AROUND THE CCHA:

In other weekend CCHA action:

AT BID RAPIDS, MICHIGAN: Miami (Ohio) scored a pair of wins by defeating Ferris State 3-1 on Friday before blanking the Bulldogs 5-0 on Saturday.

AT FAIRBANKS, ALASKA: The University of Nebraska-Omaha scored a pair of 4-1 victories over the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

AT KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN: Western Michigan took three of a possible four points on home ice over Northern Michigan, and helped out the Lakers by doing so. Friday night saw the Broncos defeat Northern 4-2 before the two teams skated to a 2-2 tie on Saturday night.

AT EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN: Michigan State picked up an important 1-1 tie on Friday evening at home against Michigan before the series shifted to Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on Saturday. Saturday saw Michigan State come from behind to score a 5-5 tie with the Wolverines.

AT COLOMBUS, OHIO: Ohio State scored a 1-0 victory over Notre Dame on Friday night and the Fighting Irish returned the favour on Saturday by scoring a 1-0 victory of their own.