SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State hockey team earned a 2-1 overtime victory over the No. 12 Bowling Green Falcons on Friday, Feb. 12 at the Slater Family Ice Arena in Bowling Green, Ohio in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) game. Junior forward Pete Veillette scored the game winning goal :17 seconds into overtime for the win while Mareks Mitens stopped 33 shots.
At 12:12 of the first period, the Falcons scored the game's first goal as Cameron Wright scored his tenth goal of the season to take the lead. The puck made its way out of the Bowling Green offensive zone after an LSSU skater fanned on a shot from the blue line. Brandon Kruse would win the race to the puck in the Lakers zone as he collected the puck along the boards and found Max Johnson open in front of the net. Johnson sent a pass to Wright, who was driving to the net on the play and was able to tap in the pass for a 1-0 lead.
With a Falcon skater in the box for roughing, the Laker power play was able to capitalize on the man advantage to tie the game at one. The Lakers spent the majority of the two minute power play in BG's defensive zone. Jack Jeffers, who has been playing one of the point positions on the power play, traded a pass to Mitchell Oliver who was playing the other point for the Lakers. Oliver took a wrist shot from the blue line that found its way through traffic and Louis Boudon would deflect the shot to beat Bowling Green goaltender Eric Dop to tie the game with 13:10 left in the second period.
With neither team scoring in the third period, the game would go to overtime between the two longtime rivals.
Only 17 seconds into the overtime period, Veillette, who has proven to be a clutch player for the Lakers, would score the game winning goal. Bowling Green gained possession after the opening faceoff but Veillette would force a turnover at center ice in the seconds that followed. With no Bowling Green skaters back on the play, Veillette then skated into the offensive zone with Ashton Calder. Veillette and Calder would exchange passes, with Veillette netting the goal past Dop for the overtime victory over the No. 12 Falcons.
Mitens finished the game with 33 saves on 34 shots to record his fifth win of the season while Dop stopped 23 shots from the Lakers. In his 13 appearances this season, Mitens has allowed two or fewer goals in 11 games.
The two teams will close out the season series tomorrow night at 7:07 p.m. at the Slater Family Ice Arena in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Even though spectators cannot currently attend Laker games, there are still a number of ways that fans will be able to follow the game action. All Laker home games, and away games against WCHA opponents during the 2020-21 season will be available to watch live on FloHockey, the WCHA's streaming partner. For more information or to sign up for a subscription, visit https:/www.flohockey.tv. Fans can also tune in to the radio broadcast on 99.5 Yes FM, the official radio station of Laker hockey.
For more information, visit lssulakers.com.
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