SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. -Lake Superior State scored in the first and last minute of the third period en route to a 3-2 win over Ohio State Friday in Taffy Abel Arena. The Buckeyes led, 2-1, entering the last stanza but the Lakers scored 20 seconds in to tie the game and tallied with 20 seconds left for the win in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association opener for both teams.
The Buckeyes (1-4-0, 0-1-0 CCHA) and Lakers (4-1-0, 1-0-0 CCHA) will close out the series at 7:05 p.m. Saturday. The series also marks the Buckeyes' first road games of the season.
There was no scoring in the first period. Buckeye goalie Dustin Carlson made seven saves, including one a breakaway by Brad Cooper with just over a minute left in the stanza. LSSU goalie Brian Mahoney-Wilson stopped all 10 Buckeye attempts. Ohio State had two power-play chances and stopped the Lakers on one opportunity.
The Buckeyes led 2-1 after the second period with goals in the first and last minutes of the stanza. Ohio State opened the scoring just 37 seconds in. Corey Toy threaded a pass up ice to Zac Dalpe. His shot was saved but Sergio Somma got to the rebound for his first tally of the year. The Lakers tied the game with a power-play goal from Simon Gysbers. The Buckeyes were able to stop a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:44 with hard work and shot-blocking from Cory Schneider, Somma, Toy and Patrick Schafer. As they tried to make a change with LSSU still on the power play and the puck in the Laker zone Mahoney-Wilson passed up to Gysbers whose shot hit the top corner on the far side. With time winding down Matt Bartkowski picked up the puck along the boards in the neutral zone and skated down the left side. He drove to the side of the net and the puck was able to get through from the side for his first tally of 2009-10. The teams combined for 25 shots in the period, with Ohio State putting 15 on net. Ohio State had one unsuccessful power-play chance and the Lakers converted 1-of-3 opportunities.
The Lakers tied the game 20 seconds into the third period. The Buckeyes blocked a shot with Carlson on the far post but the rebound went to Steven Kaunisto who put it in from the doorstep. The Lakers went ahead for the first time when Rick Schofield scored on the rush with time winding down. Ohio State was outshot in the period, 14-9. There were no penalties called in the stanza.
The Buckeyes outshot the Lakers, 34-31, in the game. Carlson made 28 saves in 59:40 for the Buckeyes. Mahoney-Wilson had 32 stops in all 60 minutes.
Ohio State ended the game 0-for-3 on the power play, with the Lakers 1-for-4.
