SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State hockey program (12-13-1, 9-8-1 CCHA) picked up three crucial points in the CCHA standings after a 3-1 victory over the visiting Michigan Tech Huskies (10-11-5, 7-7-1 CCHA), marking the first career win in goal for Easton Hesse (Beaumont, Alta.).

All was quiet for a majority of the opening period as both teams felt each other out, but after a tripping penalty on the Huskies, Carter Batchelder (Savage, Minn.) took advantage of the extra-man opportunity, firing in his seventh goal of the season while defensemen Nate Schweitzer (Champlin, Minn.) and Evan Bushy (Thief River Falls, Minn.) picked up the helpers. The Huskies responded a few minutes later as Isaac Gordon tied up the score at the 18:48 mark, but the Lakers quickly responded with Connor Milburn (Kamloops, B.C.) putting his team back in front to close out a wild ending to the opening period. 

The defenses would prove to be the story for the remainder of the game, holding each other scoreless up until the final minute of the game with Hesse stopping 34 of 35 shots he faced on the night and Schweitzer blocking five shots to help take pressure off of his netminder. Then, with less than 30 seconds to play, Dawson Tritt (Spokane, Wash.) drew a penalty shot opportunity that was immediately granted a goal by rule due to Michigan Tech having an empty net at the time to ice the game away. 

The Lakers will be looking for the series sweep on Saturday, Jan. 27 with puck drop scheduled for 6:07 p.m.