T-Wolves Sent Home LimpingPublished on: February 7, 2010
Allendale, MI — One night after their first back-to-back losses of the season the Lakers returned to home ice in front of the Laker faithful and defeated the Northwood University Timberwolves by a 6-4 margin. Returning to their high tempo, high intensity roots the Lakers took care of business with Pete Herman getting the nod again for Saturday’s contest. In the first period the Timberwolves had no answer for the Lakers’ speed and offensive prowess. The Lakers struck first at the 13:35 mark of the period, and would score three goals in the span of two minutes and 14 seconds. The first goal came off the stick of the Lakers’ leading scorer Tommy Renkes. After some tremendous pressure in the Timberwolves’ zone by Renkes, Tom Halpin, and Evan Olds, Olds corralled a loose puck and drove wide to the right side. He slipped a pass to Halpin in front who made a nifty behind-the-back drop pass to Renkes who fired it top shelf, glove side to open the scoring and the give the Lakers the 1-0 lead. One minute and six seconds later, Andrew Gilgallon would capitalize to extend the Laker lead to two. A Timberwolves’ defenseman gained control of the puck just outside his blueline before Colin Moore forced him into a turnover and took the puck down the right side into the Timberwolves’ zone, two-on-one with Gilgallon. Moore held on to the puck down the right side and then quickly zipped a pass over to Gilgallon for a tap in and a 2-0 lead. Just a minute and eight seconds later Cory Reno struck for the Lakers. After some more strong forechecking pressure by the Lakers line of Reno, Ben Sikkenga, and Danny Leja, the puck got sent down into the corner before popping out in front for Reno who buried it glove side to give the Lakers and 3-0 lead heading into the dressing room after one. The second period would see a surge from the Timberwolves as the struck twice to cut the Laker lead to 3-2 before Tim Marney answered for the Lakers. The Lakers forced a turnover in the neutral zone as Cory Farrell found Marney streaking at center ice. Marney went left to right across the ice and made a shifty move around the defenseman before sending a backhander up over the goalie, off the back cross bar and out to give the Lakers a 4-2 lead. At the 4:51 mark of the period Sikkenga would find the back of the net for the second time in two nights as he scored on the powerplay. After he tried to find Gilgallon back door earlier on the play, the puck went to the right side boards were Tommy Skelton met a Timberwolves’ defenseman sending the puck straight up in the air. Gilgallon caught it and set it down as he drove to the net before sending a backhand pass in front for Sikkenga who sent the puck up into the shelf to give the Lakers the 5-2 lead heading to the locker rooms after the second frame. In the third period the Timberwolves would surge again and get two goals to make the game 5-4 before David Stone sealed the deal for the Lakers with an empty net goal with 45 seconds remaining in the third. Stone picked up a loose puck and danced his way around two Timberwolves’ defenders with some shifty hands before sending the puck over a sprawling Timberwolves’ defender to give the Lakers a 6-4 victory. Herman was solid in net making some key saves including a huge save on a breakaway in the third period. The Lakers will close out their regular season next weekend with the Lansing Community College Stars. The Lakers play their last regular season home game, Senior Night, on Saturday, February 13th at the Georgetown Ice Arena at 8:00 PM. 
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