Lakers Stun Crusaders in OT

Lakers celebrate after the Josh Fisher game winner!

The Forest Lake Lakers used a 43 save performance from goalie Matiss Kivlenieks, including 24 in the 3rd period, and two 3rd period goals to erase a 2-0 deficit and then struck in overtime to shock the visiting Hudson Crusaders on Saturday night with a 3-2 win.  Fans packed the stands and the Lakers didn’t disappoint the hometown faithful who erupted after the game winning goal.  This was the Lakers first game of the season and the inaugural home opener in their new home at the Forest Lake Sports Center.  “The fans and atmosphere were electric tonight.  I’m so proud of the total team effort our guys gave. They played with a lot of heart and never quit.  We are a blue collar, hard working team that is going to play 60 minutes, night in and night out. Other teams are going to have to earn a win with us.  Our goaltender was the difference tonight.  We will enjoy this for a day and then get back to work” said Lakers Head Coach Dennis Canfield.

The Mayor of Forest Lake welcomes the team to the community.

The pace out of the gate was quick in the early going of the 1st period as each team was feeling one another out.  Each team had a number of quality chances off rushes but both goaltenders were sharp and the teams headed to the locker room after one period scoreless.  “In the early part of the game our guys had a lot of nerves. It was good to get to the locker room and regroup.” said Canfield.

The 2nd period started much the same but it was the Crusaders who took the momentum and began to press, however, Kivlenieks was stellar time after time again.  At one point he turned aside a flurry of shots making 4 saves on the play including a one-time cross ice pass that looked to be a sure goal.  While the game went back and forth, the Lakers did run into penalty trouble. But they managed to kill off a 4 minute double minor on a penalty to Drew Olson while defending his net minder who had been ran into.  Even with the solid penalty killing, the Crusaders would strike first on a power play goal by Cole Knowlton in the dying seconds of the period, sending the Lakers to the locker room trailing 0-1 after two periods.  “We took a couple of penalties early in the period but I thought our PK was excellent, especially killing off the double minor. We were disappointed to give up a goal like that, especially in the last minute of the period” said Canfield.

Lakers Fans! Thanks for the support, hope to see ya again soon.

Heading into the 3rd period the Lakers shuffled the lines in an effort to generate some new offense and found success early on pressuring the Crusaders defense and goaltender.  Newcomer Josh Huskien (Minneapolis) had a solid game rotating between the Lakers top two lines, as did Jake Gunderson (Forest Lake) and Brandon Gillespie (Lindstrom) who were a physical presence all day long.  Even with the changes, the Lakers continued to call upon their goaltender and, following a turnover, Parker Caskey cashed in to give the Crusaders a 2-0 lead at the 4:03 mark of the 3rd.

Down two goals, the Lakers showed no signs of quitting to work hard and sticking to the game plan.  It finally paid off when Jake Peterson (Forest Lake) banged home a loose puck in the crease that slid behind the Hudson goaltender, cutting the lead to 2-1 at the 13:25 mark of the 3rd.  The goal energized not only the Lakers themselves, but also the faithful fans.  Following a Hudson penalty minutes later, while on the power play, the Lakers kept in an attempt to clear the puck and rookie Mike Caravella (Chandler, AZ) sent home the game-tying goal at 17:51.  The teams would head to overtime tied at 2-2.  Following a Lakers time out, on an odd man rush headed by Captain Jesse Game, Mike Caravella’s shot from the wing bounced off the goalie’s pads to Josh Fisher who banged home the winner giving the Lakers the 3-2 victory.  “We wanted to get this one for the crowd and for Lakers’ owner Ralph Hayne, especially being in our new arena.  We played a very good team tonight.  We have to continue to build off of this”, said Canfield.

Lakers thanking their fans for coming out for the game. 

Lakers will take their 1-0 record on the road to Hudson next Saturday for their first road game of the year. Then it’s back to Forest Lake the following weekend for a matchup with the Owls. In September the Lakers only play 4 games giving them some extra time to prepare and scout other teams. For more info go to www.lakershockey.com

Notes:  Lakers’ Power Play was 2 for 5

              Lakers’ Penalty Kill was 1 for 3