SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Lake Superior State hockey team dropped a 5-2 game to the No. 4/5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Friday, Oct. 25 at the Compton Family Ice Arena in South Bend, Ind. With the loss, the Lakers record stands at 2-5-0 through the first seven games of the season.
The Fighting Irish opened the game's scoring at 8:33 of the first period when Notre Dame's leading scorer Mike O'Leary notched his first goal of the season. O'Leary's goal came after he skated behind the net with the puck and threw a sharp angle shot on goal that snuck in an opening between Lakers goaltender Mareks Mitens' pad and the post.
Lake State was inches away from tying the game at one when defenseman Tyler Anderson ripped a shot that rang off the crossbar with just over six minutes left in the period.
Notre Dame would add a second goal at 17:08 of the first frame following a rush through the neutral zone by senior captain Cal Burke. Burke would take a shot from the slot that beat Mitens high.
The Lakers would quickly respond as they got on the board at 17:44 of the period when senior captain Max Humitz netted his team-leading fourth goal of the season. Humitz collected a pass from Hampus Eriksson and would stickhandle in from the boards towards Irish netminder Ryan Bischel. With Bischel out of the crease, Humitz tucked the puck behind the goalie to make it a 2-1 game.
In the second period, the Irish would regain the two-goal advantage when Matt Hellickson recorded a power play goal at 6:05. The defenseman's goal would prove to be the eventual game winner.
Lake State had a few quality chances late in the second period, including a net front scramble in front of Bischel where Brendan McKay and Lukas Kaelble each came close to putting the puck behind the Irish goalie.
Only :14 seconds into the final period, Notre Dame would extend its lead to 4-1 when Graham Slaggert would capitalize on a shot fired from the goal line.
At 4:52 of the third period, the Lakers once again tightened ND's lead as freshman Louis Boudon registered his second career goal, and his second goal in as many games. Boudon found the loose puck and sent a shot into the top corner of the net. The Lakers second goal of the game was assisted by Ashton Calder and Pete Veillette.
The Lakers would pull Mitens in favor of a sixth skater with 3:15 left in regulation in an effort to give the team an offensive advantage. O'Leary would tally his second goal of the game into the empty net to clinch the game for Notre Dame by a final score of 5-2.
Mitens finished the game with 27 saves, including 11 in the second period while Bischel stopped 24 shots from the Lakers. The Lakers were outshot in the game, 32-26.
The Lakers and Fighting Irish will match-up again tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m. at the Compton Family Ice Arena in South Bend, Ind. The game will be broadcast live on the NHL Network, NBC Sports Chicago, SNY as well as streamed on FloHockey. Fans in Sault Ste. Marie can watch the game at Buffalo Wild Wings. There will be a Hockey Social for Laker Fans in South Bend tomorrow at Legends of Notre Dame at 4:00 p.m.
For more information, visit lssulakers.com
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