MARQUETTE, Mich. - Coming off the back of a 7-2 exhibition win against Michigan Tech, the 'Cats look to ride that momentum into Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, where they take on the Lake Superior State Lakers (9-11-1 overall, 6-6-1 conference, 18 points) to wrap up the Cappo Cup series.
The 'Cats (7-9-2 overall, 5-5-0 conference, 15 points) hold a 2-0 series lead and a 10-7 goals-for advantage in the in-season tournament, which is determined by total goals scored within the season series, with wins of 6-4 and 4-3 in overtime at the beginning of November.
In the series opener,
Artem Shlaine recorded a hat-trick to fuel the 'Cats to victory in game one, followed by
Josh Zinger scoring the overtime game-winner to secure the series sweep and a hold on the series. Shlaine (3-2--5) and
Kristof Papp (2-3--5) led the team in scoring over those two games, and Shlaine earned CCHA Forward of the Week for his efforts.
The Wildcats come into the weekend sitting at sixth in the CCHA with 15 points through 10 games, a .500 points percentage, and a -4 goal differential in CCHA play. The Lakers sit two spots and three points ahead of the 'Cats at fourth with 18 points in 13 games, a .461 points percentage, and a +3 goal differential.
Hear From Grant Potulny
Follow Along
Make sure to follow @NMUHockey on X, formerly known as Twitter, to get updates throughout the week leading up to the games and for live updates while the 'Cats are on the ice.
Friday, January 12 - at Lake State at 7:07 PM
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Saturday, January 3 - at Lake State at 6:07 PM
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Looking at the 'Cats
Despite the stats not counting, the Wildcats opened the 2024 calendar with a dominant 7-2 exhibition win against rival Michigan Tech to open its 2024 calendar.
Andre Ghantous has four points in his last three games, 10 points his previous 10 games, and is currently averaging 1.17 points-per game, his best statistical average to date.
Artem Shlaine is also playing at a point-per game pace, as he is second on the team in points behind Ghantous and on pace to break his regular-seaosn point totals set last season.
Josh Zinger has taken huge steps in his progression as a player and is now one of the more dominant point-producing blueliners in the CCHA. At 15 points (3-12--15) in 18 games, not only has he essentially matched his season totals from last year when he was named to the CCHA All-Rookie Team (3-13--16, 38 games), he sits fourth among conference defensemen in points and T1 in game-winning goals.
Aiden Gallacher has been a steady presence on the back end, leads the CCHA is blocked shots (48). His three goals and six points are first among CCHA defenders with 34+ blocks.
The 'Cats are currently own one of the better special teams units in the CCHA, where the green and golds 17 PPGs lead the league and the 22.1% PP% is second. The 'Cats have also picked it up on the PK, having only allowed three PPGs since December 1st, the third fewest among conference opponents in that frame The 'Cats have positioned themselves as one of the better faceoff teams in the league once again this season, as their 51.8% FO% is second best in the league.
A Look at the Lake Superior State
The Lakers come into the weekend dropping two in a row, a 4-0 loss to Dartmouth and a 4-2 loss to RIT in the Ledyard Classic. Before that, the Lakers won two in a row against CCHA opponents Bemidji State and Ferris State 6-1 and 5-1, respectively. Those two wins were the only wins for the Lakers in December, going 2-4-1 in seven games.
Despite not finding success of late, the Lakers boast Jared Westcott, who is first in points and second in goals overall among CCHA skaters (12-12--24 pts, 21 games), and second in goals and points in conference play (7-8--15 pts, 13 games). Sophomore Connor Milburn is second in both goals and points (7-10--17), and junior Dawson Tritt is tied for second in goals (7-4--11). Goalie Ethan Langenegger leads the CCHA in games played, minutes played, saves, and is tied for first in wins. In six games against the 'Cats in his career, Langenegger is 2-4-0 with a .869 SV% and 3.73 GAA.
As a team against conference opponents, the Lakers are first in goals per game (3.5), second in goals scored (45), PP% (27.6%, 8/29), and first in PK% (86.7%). With a 3-2-1 record at home against conference opponents, the Lakers PK finds an edge in the Sault, where they lead the CCHA with a 90.5% (19/21) success rate on home ice.
Scoring early will be a key to success against the Lakers, where they are 5-9-1 when their opponent scores first, 1-6-1 when trailing after the first period, and 0-10-1 when trailing after the first period; as opposed to 4-2-0 when scoring first, 4-2-0 when leading after one period, and 8-0-0 when leading after two periods.
Cat Nips
- The Wildcats won the Cappo Cup last season, the first time since the 2018-19 season, and hold a 6-4 advantage over the last 10 seasons.
- Andre Ghantous has the most career points against the Lakers on the active roster with 15 (3-12--15) in 18 career games. New to the rivalry, both Artem Shlaine (5-3--8) and Kristof Papp (3-4--7) have produced over a point per game against the Lakers.
- The 'Cats are 8-2-0 and 4-1-0 on the road against the Lakers in the previous 10 meetings, where the 'Cats have outscored the Lakers 38-25
- Andre Ghantous leads all active NCAA skaters in points (50-95--145). Ghantous currently sits 19th in career points, 36th in career goals, and 14th in career assists, and 29th in career games played in NMU program history.
- Jack Perbix is fifth among active NCAA skaters in career games played with 159
- Ghntous has four points his last three games (2-2--4) and 10 points his previous 10 games (3-7--10)
- Artem Shlaine is riding a three-game point streak (0-4--4), and Reilly Funk has three points his previous two (1-2--3)
- Beni Halasz holds a .922 SV% at even strength and a .913 SV% against conference opponents. In his career against the Lakers, Halasz holds a 4-1-0 record with a .884 SV% and a 2.61 GAA.
- The 'Cats have found success in the second and third periods, scoring 42 of their 51 goals in the final two frames (one goal in overtime - 43 of 51 in the 2nd, the 3rd, and OT)
- Three is the lucky number, as the 'Cats are 6-2-1 when scoring 3+ goals this season; in relation, the Lakers are 3-11-0 when allowing 3 or more goals
2023-24 CCHA Honors
Pre-Season:
Week Two (10/13-10/14):
Week Three (10/20-10/21):
Week Four (10/27-10/28):
Week Six (11/10-11/11):
Week Seven (11/17-11/18):
Week Eight (11/24-11/25):
