SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State men's hockey opened Western Collegiate Hockey Association play Friday evening with a 5-4 loss to Alabama-Huntsville in overtime. Sophomore forward J.T. Henke (5-2--7) paced the Lakers with a hat-trick, but two goals in the third period sent the game to extra time with the Chargers collecting the game-winning goal 1:07 into the final frame.
Brennan Saulnier opened the scoring after only 36 seconds after the opening puck drop. Max McHugh assisted on Saulnier's opening tally.
One minute and 40 seconds later, Henke scored his first goal of the evening off of a feed from Diego Cuglietta (0-3--3).
With 15:25 remaining in the first, Saulnier scored his second goal of the evening with the lone assist coming from Chad Brears. Saulnier's second tally was his team-leading sixth goal of the season.
The Lakers (2-5-0, 0-1-0 WCHA) scored a pair of goals to cap the first period and take a 3-2 lead into the dressing rooms.
Alex Globke tied the game at two-goals apiece after tipping a James Roll (0-1--1) shot from the blue line with 1:15 remaining in the opening period. Globke's goal was his first of the season and his first point overall this season.
Henke gave the Lakers the 3-2 lead with 10 seconds remaining in the first period. Henke's second score came on a perfect centering pass by Mitch Hults (3-2--5) from behind the net. Matt Johnson picked up his fourth assist on the season on the go-ahead marker.
After the horn a skirmish broke out between the teams and it was decided, after mcuh deliberation, the Lakers would head to their second power play opportunity of the game to start the middle period.
It took Henke just 37 seconds into the second period to give the Lakers a power-play goal and 4-2 lead. Freshmen Anthony Nellis (0-2--2) and Owen Headrick (1-1--2) were credited with the assists.
LSSU took the 4-2 lead into the second intermission while also leading in the shot column 20-15.
The Chargers' (2-2-1, 1-1-1 WCHA) Kurt Gosselin scored two goals, 4:46 minutes apart, to knot the game at 4-4. Gosselin's blue-line strikes were the first two goals of the Brighton, Mich. native's career.
With 21 seconds remaining in regulation Henke found the puck on his stick and empty ice ahead of him with a chance to score the go-ahead goal. After making a move to deke Chargers goaltender Carmine Guerriero, Henke's shot sailed high and out of play.
Guerriero took his 24 saves into the overtime period and went without seeing a shot in the extra 1:07.
Cody Marroney scored the game-winning goal on a hacking attempt in front of Lakers goaltender Gordon Defiel with the Lakers defense looking to clear the zone. Marooney's shot trickled over Defiel's blocker to give the Chargers the 5-4 overtime victory.
Defiel made 22 saves and was tagged with the loss, the fourth on his record this season.
The Lakers and Chargers will play the series final Saturday night at 7:07 p.m. Saturday's game continues the eighth annual LSSU Pink in the Rink ceremonies. Following the game, the Lakers will auction the pink jerseys they have been wearing this weekend.
Photos credit Helena Wollan
