The Lawrence University men’s hockey team played three very closely contested games last week, emerging with one win, one loss and one tie.
Both the win and the loss were decided by a single goal; Lawrence finished the weekend 1-1-1, but the Vikings could easily have walked away either 3-0-0 or 0-3-0 with just a few different bounces of the puck.
The Vikings (7-6-1, 6-2-1 MCHA) took on Finlandia in a weekend series and things headed immediately south for Lawrence. Finlandia (3-10-2, 2-7-1 MCHA) took a quick 3-0 lead in the first period, but the Vikings came battling back to tie the game in the second period behind goals from Matt Hughes, Brad Scurfield and Gustav Ahlberg.
Sam Johnson then gave Lawrence its first lead of the game, scoring just minutes into the final period. However, Finlandia scored a fourth time to retie the game halfway through the period.
Both teams had several scoring opportunities in the final minutes of the game, but neither team could put the puck in the net to secure a victory, and the game ended in a 4-4 tie.
The Vikings fared much better in their second game against Finlandia despite getting off to another sluggish start. Finlandia scored just two minutes into the game on a power-play goal, but Lawrence came back quickly later in the first period behind goals from Gustav Ahlberg and Marc Howe.
Finlandia countered with two goals to take back the lead, but Matt Hughes tied the game again with not even 30 seconds left in the second period.
Neither team was able to score in the third period, but 3:41 into overtime, Marc Howe delivered the game-winning goal. Howe’s shot was also a record-setting goal for the Vikings. The goal, Howe’s second of the game, moved Howe into first place on the Lawrence career list for points scored with 104.
Howe also holds the top spot on Lawrence’s all-time career goals list with 59.
In Lawrence’s most recent game, a late goal was waved off, costing the Vikings the game. After two penalties were called against Marian (8-6-0, 7-2-0 MCHA) with just 78 seconds left in the game, the Vikings pulled their goalie in an attempt to make up the 4-3 deficit.
Despite skating with a 6-on-3 advantage, the Vikings were unable to score the one goal needed. After a goal was waived of in the last half-minute, time expired, and Lawrence dropped the game 4-3.
The Vikings next take the ice this weekend, when they will play two games at Adrian.
Hockey ties, wins and loses in last week’s series of close matches
