Box Score
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. ? Western Michigan University dropped their final game of the regular season to the Lake Superior State University Lakers, 4-3, in front of 2,588 Saturday night at Taffy Abel Arena.
Jeff Jakaitis stopped 22 WMU (17-16-1, 14-13-1 CCHA) shots and Derek R. Smith scored a goal and tallied an assist to give LSSU (17-16-3, 11-14-3 CCHA) the victory and clinching home ice advantage in the first round of the CCHA playoffs.
During an early Bronco power play the puck bounced out of the Laker zone and right to Smith who beat Riley Gill on his glove side for a short-handed goal, his fourth of the year, 2:22 into the first period.
On the very same power play, Smith stole the puck and found Pat Aubry who made a nice move to beat Gill for LSSU's second short-handed goal of the game, giving the Lakers a 2-0 lead. Gill was replaced by Daniel Bellissimo, who fell to 5-10-0 on the season, after the second goal just 3:44 into the first period.
The Broncos finally struck 14:07 into the first period when Ryan Mahrle fired a shot after a face off deep in the Laker zone. Jakaitis, who improved to 12-13-3 on the season, blocked Mahrle's shot but Sean Weaver was there to put in the rebound, beating Jakaitis on his glove side for the WMU's first goal of the game. The goal was also Weaver's first goal as a Bronco and Mahrle picked up his 13th assist of the season.
Weaver's goal helped cut the deficit, as the teams went into the locker room after the first period with the Lakers up, 2-1.
The Broncos found themselves on the power play midway through the second period. Jeff LoVecchio stole the puck in the Laker zone and found Kevin Labatte who fired a shot, beating Jakaitis on his stick side for Labatte's fifth goal of the season with 8:02 remaining.
Labatte's goal tied the game, 2-2, but 32 seconds later Trent Campbell found Dominic Osman, who picked up his fourth goal of the season giving LSSU the lead, 3-2.
The Lakers would later add a power play goal by Nathan Perkovich from Tony Schwab to extend their lead, 4-2, at the 15:34 mark of the second period.
The Broncos struck quickly, just 3:08 seconds into the third period when Jeff Pierce took the puck behind the net and found an attacking Mark Letestu. Letestu's 21st goal of the season brought the Broncos within one, 4-3. Pierce's assist was his 20th helper of the season, Brian Bicek also picked up his 11th assist of the season on the Letestu goal.
The Broncos had two good chances to score around the 16-minute mark of the third period. A shot by Patrick Galivan was stopped by Jakaitis, and a LSSU player ran into the net, freezing the puck. On the following face off, Tyler Ludwig ripped a slap shot from the point but Jakaitis made a glove save.
Bellissimo was pulled with 1:05 remaining in the third to give the Broncos a six-on-four advantage due to a power play, but the Lakers held on for the victory.
The Broncos will host a home playoff series March 2,3, and 4 if needed. Their opponent will be determined by the outcome of the University Alaska-Fairbanks v. University of Nebraska-Omaha game taking place late Saturday night.
