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Lake State wins first regular season game with Blue since 1992-93

SAULT STE. MARIE -- The Lake Superior State hockey team did something this weekend that it had not done since 1992.

Actually, it did it twice.

The No. 7 Lakers (20-6-2 CCHA, 24-6-2 overall) grabbed their first regular season victory over No. 3 Michigan (20-6-2, 25-7-2) since their 6-1 victory during the 1992-1993 season at Taffy Abel Arena.

Lake State swept the Wolverines this weekend, 5-4 in overtime Friday and 7-3 Saturday, at Abel Arena.

Michigan last faced the Lakers at Yost Ice Arena Dec. 8. The Wolverines outplayed Lake State for most of the second half of the game, winning the contest, 8-2. Michigan outshot Lake State, 34-18, in that game.

This weekend, Lake State turned the tables on the Wolverines, outshooting them, 32-31, Friday and 33-23 Saturday. Not including the overtime periods against Ohio State Jan. 26 and Feb. 3, Michigan had outshot its opponents in 87 of the 96 periods this season.

"Obviously, this was a very disappointing weekend," Michigan coach Red Berenson said.

HE'S BACK!!: Lake State senior left wing Jason Trzcinski was back to haunt Michigan.

Last season, he scored the overtime goal in the 5-4 CCHA semifinal win over the Wolverines, knocking Michigan out of the playoffs. Lake State went on to win the playoffs after a 5-3 victory over Michigan State the next night.

This weekend, Trzcinski had a hat trick and three assists in Saturday night's victory, and was named the first star of the game for his efforts. His first and third goals were scored on a power play and the second was a shorthanded goal. On the shorthanded effort, Trzcinski picked up the loose puck in the neutral zone, streaked down the left wing and flipped the puck in between Michigan goalie Gregg Malicke's legs for the score.

NOT-SO SPECIAL TEAMS: The Wolverines were first in power-play conversions and second in penalty killing in the CCHA, before the weekend series.

Lake State converted seven of its 13 man advantages this weekend. The Wolverines converted just one of six power-play chances Friday night, and one of five Saturday night.

"Their penalty killing did a good job keeping our power-play off balance," Berenson said. "Special teams were a strength of ours until this weekend."

The Lakers were third in both power play conversions and penalty killing in the conference before the twin bill. Lake State moved up to second in both categories after the sweep.

"They definitely pressed us more and we weren't used to that," sophomore forward Matt Herr said.

CRIMINAL ACTIVITY: Lake State sophomore goalie John Grahame will be arraigned Feb. 27 for malicious destruction of property under $100, according to Chippewa County prosecuting attorney Patrick Shannon.

Grahame is the third member of the Laker hockey team to face misdemeanor charges. He and teammates Mike Kucsulain and Keith Aldridge were allegedly involved in a window-breaking incident Feb. 11. All three will be arraigned Feb. 27.

Aldridge was named the first star of the game Friday night and second star Saturday. He scored the overtime goal and collected three assists in game one. He notched one goal and four assists in game two.