Lakers trend continues in Alaska

By Michael David/LSSU Beat Writer

One could argue that the Lake Superior State Lakers are still winless on Saturdays, as technically their 4-2 victory over the Alaska Nanooks came early Sunday morning. But, hey, the Lakers will take the win since their trend of splitting series this season continues after dropping Friday night's (Saturday morning) game 3-1.

Friday night, the Lakers jumped out to a 1-0 on a goal by Chris Ciotti. He was set up by Dominic Monardo who took a return pass from defenseman Zach Loesch, then circled the net and dumped the puck out front of the net where Ciotti tucked it inside the right post.

Both teams played to a stalemate in the second period, before Alaska started his comeback in the third. Lake State was victim of a bit of bad luck, as Nanook forward Colton Parayko threw the puck in front of the net, and was deflected in off defenseman Kevin Czuczman's skate past net minder Kevin Murdock. 

Alaska would score a power-play goal with just under two minutes left in the game to take the 2-1 lead and break some Laker hearts. Murdock made 37 saves in the loss, as LSSU was out-shot 17-4 in the final stanza.

"I thought Kevin Murdock played a great game, are really good road game for us", Laker coach Jim Roque told the Fairbanks Daily-News Miner. 

Saturday night, or Sunday morning, Murdock faced 50 shots and made 48 saves in backstopping the Lakers 4-2 win.

Lake State jumped out to another early lead, when Monardo banged in a power-play goal in the first period. Czuzcman and freshman Eric Drapluk earned the assist.

The Lakers would take a 2-0 lead in the second period, when Dan Radke scored the first of his two goals with assists from Drapluk and Nick McParland. 

In the third, Czuczman got a bit of retribution, scoring the eventual winning goal on a bomb from the point setup by freshman Bryce Schmitt. Alaska refused to quit, however, and scored two goal less than four minutes apart to make the game interesting at 3-2.

Murdock stood tall, and Radke would add an empty-netter to secure the win. Monardo and Andrew Perrault assisted on Radke's second goal.

The Lakers were 1-4 on the power-play, while blanking the Nanooks 0-4. Next weekend LSSU (4-4, 2-2  CCHA) will host last season's NCCA Championship Runners-Up, the Ferris State Bulldogs. It will be the annual 'pink in the rink' to help battle breast cancer.