Lake Superior State scored four goals in a wild six-goal second period and went on to a 6-3 win over Vermont in the first round of the Sheraton/Howard Bank Hockey Classic at Gutterson Fieldhouse Friday.
Lake Superior, 4-12-0, took a 1-0 lead at 14:43 when Tyson Turgeon scored on a rebound after a shot from Ryan Branham hit the post beside Vermont goalie Tim Peters. The Lakers added to their lead midway through the second period on Adam Nightingale’s power-play goal at 7:56.
LSSU made it 3-0 just 61 seconds later when Chad Dahlen scored on a shot from the left point.
The Catamounts, 2-8-2, cut the LSSU lead to 3-1 on Gerard Miller’s goal from the blue line at 9:55 after a shot from Scott Mifsud, but the Lakers regained the three-goal advantage at 11:57 on Aaron Davis’ unassisted goal.
Vermont again made it a two-goal game at 14:22 when Jeff Miles scored his third goal of the season unassisted, ripping a wrist shot from the left circle past Laker goalie Terry Denike. LSSU’s Jeff Mushaluk scored late in the period to make it 5-2 after 40 minutes.
Miles scored his second of the night at 13:17 of the third period on the power play to bring Vermont within two goals. Patrick Sharp assisted on the goal, Miles’ fourth of the season.
Lake State’s Chris McNamara scored into the empty net in the final minute to make for the final margin.
Peters made 22 saves and allowed five goals in two periods of work for Vermont, while Mike Gomez stopped three in his first action of the season in the third period. Denike made 31 saves for Lake State.
Dartmouth will play Lake Superior Saturday at 4 p.m., while Merrimack will take on the host Catamounts at 7 p.m. in predetermined matchups.
