University of Maine at Lake Superior State University
Abel Arena, Sault Ste. Marie, MI
NON-CONFERENCE GAME
Maine 1 - 5 - 1 -- 7 (1-1-0)
LSSU 2 - 1 - 1 -- 4 (1-2-1)
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich., -- University of Maine senior center Dan
Shermerhorn scored a natural hat trick in the second period, as Maine
rebounded from a loss to Michigan Friday night with a solid 7-4
victory over Lake Superior State Sunday afternoon.
FIRST PERIOD:
It was clear after the Michigan game that Maine needed to be more
agressive offensively. They only mustered 17 shots against the
defending National Champions, and that wasn't going to do the trick.
The Black Bears were far more agressive right from the drop of the
puck, and in the first two minutes would put together a couple great
chances converting on one.
After LSSU goaltender John Grahame stopped Steve Kariya on a
mini-breakaway, Scott Parmentier caught the Laker defense sleeping
and beat Grahame just 2:09 into the game.
The lead would be short lived as Bryan Fuss was left wide open and
scored for LSSU on their first shot of the game at the 4:22 mark of
the first period.
Maine's power play would get some work in this game, but in the
first period they were still working out the kinks. After going 0
for 4 against Michigan Friday night, Maine did not convert on their
first two power plays in the first. When Bryan Fuss scored to make
it 2-1 LSSU at 18:02 it appeared that it would be one of the those
games where Maine had the chances to do damage and didn't come
through. It would not end up that way. Maine had a power play to end
the period, and for the first time they appeared to start to gell
with the man advantage.
Fuss' second goal came on a giveaway in their own zone. Bates Battaglia
and Matt Alvey got the assists as LSSU led 2-1 despite only managing
6 shots on Maine goaltender Alfie Michaud.
Overall the first was a good period for Maine, but the problems that
they had against Michigan persisted through two periods. Despite
being more agressive offensively, Maine had a couple breakdowns
defensively and gave up goals based on that. John Grahame played
well for the Lakers in this period stopping 9 of 10 Maine shots.
SECOND PERIOD:
Once again Maine started the period buzzing. Maine failed to score
on the remaining :35 of a power play left over from the first and
were already 0 for 3.
Gino Pulente would trip up Shawn Wansborough about 4 minutes into the
period, and the Bears would finally make the Lakers pay. Freshman
forward Cory Larose, quarterbacking the Maine power play, brought the
puck down from the point and fed it toward the net where Dan
Shermerhorn redirected it behind Grahame at 6:21 to tie the game at
1-1. It was the first power play goal for Maine in 8 chances this
season.
Maine could not keep the pressure on, after killing off a Jason
Mansoff penalty Leo Wlasow took down a Laker player about halfway
through the second and this time Maine was made to pay for the
careless play.
Trevor Demmans tucked one just under the crossbar with a lot of
traffic in front of Alfie Michaud. It was a power play goal for Lake
State at 11:17 of the period, and it gave them back the lead at 3-2.
LSSU has had trouble with their power play early this season as well.
Coming into this afternoon's game the Lakers were 3 of 22 on the
power play (14%) in three games this season.
It appeared that Maine was going to self-destruct at this point,
despite outplaying the Lakers at this point when they took a too many
men on the ice penalty just more than two minutes after giving the
power play goal.
But 44 seconds later Bates Battaglia would take a penalty to negate
the the man advantage. This would prove to be the turning point of
the game. Instead of LSSU possibly scoring a power play goal to
extend their lead to two goals, Maine would score 4 goals in a span
of 3:01 to pull away.
Roughly 10 seconds after evening the play off at 4 on 4, Dan
Shermerhorn would take the puck away from Terry Marchant and "pasted
the puck" in the upper right hand corner of the net and the game was
tied at 3-3.
LSSU had trouble all night with disipline, and it hadn't hurt them
much, but would in the second. Jason Sessa was whistled for tripping
on the same 4 on 4, and when Steve Kariya returned from the too many
men on the ice penalty Maine had a 5 on 3 advantage. Reg Cardinal
got the goal with lots of traffic in front from Libby and Cullen, a 5
on 3 power play goal at 16:13 and it was 4-3 Maine.
Forty-six seconds later Nils Satterstrom converted after a flurry of
rebounds for his first career goal. Ted Laviolette made a great
diving stop on a Jason Vitorino wrap around attempt after Grahame had
committed to the other side but Satterstrom put the ensuing rebound
away.
Satterstrom played in three games last year before losing the rest of
the season to a back injury.
Just 13 seconds later Jeff Cheeseman was charged with a high sticking
call on Reg Cardinal, putting the Black Bears back on the power play.
Dan Shermerhorn got his hat trick as Grahame made the inital save
but couldn't hold on as it trickled behind him. Cory Larose made a
nice cross-ice pass to set the table for Shermerhorn.
All told Maine converted on 3 of 4 power plays during the period, and
scored 5 goals on 15 shots.
THIRD PERIOD:
It looked like Maine was going to just continue to rack up the goals
as Scott Parmentier scored his second of the game at the 2:04 mark.
Cory Larose and Shawn Wansborough were coming down the ice on a
2-on-1 when Larose's pass to Wansborough was broken up it came right
up the slot to Parmentier who was coming in late. Parmentier buried
the shot from the slot and Maine led 7-3.
It would continue to look bad for the Lakers as Terry Marchant and
Joe Blasnek both had early penalties giving Maine another 5 on 3
advantage. Believe it or not Ted Laviolette was whistled for
slashing and a 10 minute misconduct. At one point LSSU had 4 players
in the box, while Maine had only one.
After a timeout, LSSU came out and took care of business. Maine had
some chances, but Grahame and the LSSU dug deep and killed off the
penalties. If LSSU takes anything positive from this game, this
should be right up there. Their penalty killers had to be dead
tired, and the game was clearly in Maine's favor but they took care
of business and kept the score from being worse.
It would be Maine who finished the game on a poor note disipline
wise. Maine would kill off a Shawn Mansoff holding call when Jason
Mansoff went to the box for high sticking. Maine would kill it but
Mansoff would return to the ice in time to take an ill-advised
elbowing call. In a closer game this would have drawn a strong
reaction from the Maine coaching staff, and it was not a smart play
by Mansoff.
With the Maine penalty killers on the ice again Mitch Lane got a
power play goal for the Lakers from Tyler Palmer and Trevor Demmans
at 15:16. Lane redirected the shot from Palmer by Michaud on the
short side.
POSTGAME -- LSSU
Certainly a disappointing game for the Lakers. This was a good test
for Scott Borek's Lakers as it was their third game in five days,
and in the latter stages of the second period they seemed to lose
not only their legs but their composure. This is where the game was
lost. Maine was outplaying LSSU most of the game to this point, but
LSSU was still leading because they were converting on their chances
and were helping out John Grahame. LSSU simply gave Maine too much
time to work through the kinks in their power play.
Fuss-Battaglia-Alvey combination for LSSU is a great line. Battaglia
had three assists, Fuss two goals and Alvey two assists. Fuss
especially is a talent as he buried the chances he got. Good players
convert the chances when they get them, and Fuss is certainly a good
player.
The LSSU defense needs to shore up, and Grahame needs to settle down
in net. Last year Grahame was able to get by with leaving rebounds
because of the talented defenseman on the Laker roster. This
afternoon the defense couldn't clear the rebounds left by Grahame and
Maine was able to convert on some of those. John Grahame allowed two
goals for only the second time in his career.
LSSU drops to 1-2-1, with both losses coming at home.
POSTGAME -- MAINE:
No question a good game and a good win for Maine. It wasn't perfect,
but when you consider the improvements made from Friday's loss to
Michigan, and that it's only their second game of the year, in a
tough building a long way from home, a good win.
The defense got better again as the game went on. Early on they gave
up several odd-men rushes again, and turned the puck over in their
zone a bit too much, but the settled down and only allowed 16 shots
on the game.
Alfie Michaud was far less impressive this afternoon. He allowed 4
goals on only 16 shots (.750 save percentage). It's hard to say how
much of that has to do with the lack of work, but Michaud only made
one "big" save by my recolection. After playing great against
Michigan, and in only his second game Maine fans can't expect
him to be stopping everything just yet. He'll get better the more he
gets to work with Grant Standbrook.
The Maine offense got going this afternoon, and this is very key to
Maine's having success. They are young and somewhat inexperienced in
net and on the blue line, so if their offense can register the goals
Maine will be fine.
Dan Shermerhorn and Scott Parmentier stepped up in a big way this
afternoon. After Friday's weak offensive performance, these two
took the reins and led the team. I'm sure it helped relax everyone
when Maine finally was able to get on the board, and then string some
goals together.
Big applause for Cory Larose today as well. Larose played on the
point on the power play, and showed great composure for a freshman in
that position. Larose had three assists according to the box score
sent by Lake Superior State.
Maine will host Colgate Friday in their home opener. Here are WZON's
three stars, I agree 100%:
3. Scott Parmentier 2-0--2
2. Cory Larose 0-3--3
1. Dan Shermerhorn 3-0--3
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Deron Treadwell - [log in to unmask]
Editor, US College Hockey Online
USCHO: http://www.uscollegehockey.com
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