Nanooks Rebound and Sink the Lakers 3-2 in Last CCHA Home Series

The Nanooks came out to lay down pure domination in the first period, rocking the Lakers with two quick power play goals by Granberg and Beck. Great shots too, and both of them beat Kapalka clean.

The Lakers decided that Kapalka's effort wasn't up to snuff, so they benched him to start the 2nd period and went with Kevin Murdock. I guess Lake Superior does t recruit goaltenders NOT named Kevin. Kind of prejudicial if you as me.

But anyway, the infamous two-goal lead got the best of the Nanooks as Lake State came right back, capitalizing on an early 3 on 5 power play chance after Kunyk and Meyers were flagged for a couple of no-nos. Zach Trotman got the goal on a blast from the point. I think Monardo actually got a tip in front, but we shall see what the video says.

Just about 6 minutes later, Ciotti got the goal on a scramble in front of the net, which went on the board as the only even strength goal at that point.

But the 2-2 tie set the 3rd period up for some of the best hockey I've seen in a while. But the horrible officiating crew decided that a clean check by Trevor Campbell on a player with the puck was illegal and deemed interference. It was a hard hit, Monardo got shaken up a bit, but it was clean and perfectly legal. That pathetic call could have nearly been the turning point of the game, as Greenham had to be sharp. Lake State got there chances there but the 'Nooks got more shots and scoring chances while shorthanded then the Lakers did with the man advantage. Almost like it was giving the refs a big middle finger for trying to take the game away.

Shortly after, the Lakers had a goal waved off after not only kicking the puck into the net, but also taking Greenham down as the puck was coming in. For some reason, goaltender interference wasn't called (shocking, I know), but after Greenham was plowed over intentionally by Andrew Dommett earlier in the 2nd period, I suppose the Lake State players thought that it was open season on the Nanook netminder.

But that only fired up the 'Nooks that much more, and the hardest working player on the ice tonight according to me, Andy Taranto dug in and crashed the net and was rewarded with a great goal after Beck's initial shot had Murdock in desperation mode, and T.O. was right there ready to cash in.

Hard work, getting to the net, and getting those second and third chances is the recipe for a goal in any league. The guys are getting that done, but the Lakers are a very solid team defensively. Taranto's goal was the only one scored at even strength all weekend, which is an impressive stat if you look at the 29 shots the Nanooks put on net tonight while 5 on 5 or shorthanded.

This week, the Nanooks head to East Lansing, Michigan to take down the Spartans in the last CCHA regular season series of the season, and sadly the last regular season series our seniors will get to partake in before coming back home to retake ownership of the Governor's Cup.