DATE: Dec. 4, 2004
Beavers score three unanswered goals in third period

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. (Taffy Abel Arena) [stats][game notes] - Andrew Murray’s goal with 1:33 to play in regulation capped a three-goal third period rally and lifted Bemidji State men’s ice hockey past Lake Superior State, 3-1.

The Lakers struck first, getting the second goal of the season from B.J. Pelkey just 2:53 into the contest on their third shot of the game.

But it was all they would muster.

Sophomore goaltender Layne Sedevie (Bismarck, N.D.) was perfect the rest of the way, saving the next 22 shots he faced to pick up the win for the Beavers. He earned first-star honors, saving 24 of 25 shots faced for the game to improve to 6-4-0 on the season.

The Bemidji State defense did its part in support of Sedevie. After allowing 11 shots in the first period, BSU allowed just 14 in the second and third periods combined - just six in the second period.

After the early Laker goal, the game would be a defensive struggle until BSU scored two goals in a span of just 1:35 early in the third period. Jean-Guy Gervais (Winnipeg, Manitoba) picked up BSU’s first goal to even the score at 1-1 with helpers from Myles Kuharski (Neepawa, Manitoba) and Andrew Martens (Friendswood, Texas) at 2:37 of the third.

Lake Superior State’s Dan Eves was whistled for tripping less than a minute later, and Peter Jonsson (Astorp, Sweden) converted with his second power-play goal of the season at 4:12.

The score remained 2-1 until Andrew Murray (Selkirk, Manitoba) put up his fifth goal of the season at 18:27 of the third for the game’s final 3-1 margin.

The goal capped a strong weekend for Murray, who finished the Lake Superior State series with two goals and three assists. His third-period goal and an assist on Jonsson’s power-play marker earlier in the frame gave him 90 points for his career, making him just the second player in BSU’s Division I era to score 90 points. He now stands just 10 points shy of Marty Goulet’s Division I-era record of 100 points scored.

Sophomore wing Luke Erickson (Roseau, Minn.) assisted on Murray’s goal at 18:27 of the third period, giving him at least one point in each of his last eight games played - tied for the second-longest streak in BSU’s Division I era, and trailing only Brendan Cook’s nine-game scoring streak last year.

Jeff Jakaitis saved 33 of 36 shots faced for the Lakers. He took the loss in goal for the hosts and fell to 3-7-0 on the year.

Each team was whistled for four penalties for eight minutes. BSU converted on one of four power-play opportunities, giving it a power-play goal in eight consecutive games - the second longest streak in its Division I era. LSSU went 0-for-4 on the power play, improving BSU’s penalty killers to 54 of 58 (.931) over its last eight games.

Bemidji State picked up its first win at Lake Superior State since Jan. 23, 1971 and snapped a four-game losing streak in the series. The Beavers are now 17-20-1 all-time against the Lakers, but have won just three of the last 16 meetings.

The victory improved Bemidji State to 7-5-0 on the season, while Lake Superior State fell to 5-8-1. The Beavers return to action Dec. 10-11 when they host a two-game College Hockey America series against the Niagara Purple Eagles. The series kicks off a Division I-era record eight-game homestand for BSU; the Beavers will not play on the road again until Jan. 21, 2005. Opening face-offs for the Niagra series are slated for 7:35 and 7:05 p.m. Central time.

--bsu--