Club hockey team plays Lake Superior State for last run at playoffs

• Tweet
• 

The CMU men’s club hockey team looks to continue its grind toward a playoff spot as it plays Lake Superior State (17-15) at 9 p.m. today and Saturday at the Isabella County Events Arena.

“We just need to play like we did last weekend and we’ll be in good shape,” said Central coach Mike Jakubik.

CMU (11-13-2-2) swept Adrian last weekend with a 6-5 win Friday and a 9-5 victory Saturday. Senior forward Jordan Jakubik said he feels the team has needs the offense to continue to produce like last weekend.

“We feel confident going into the weekend, especially coming off a sweep last weekend,” Jordan Jakubik said. “Hopefully, our offense can continue to produce and the defense tightens up.”

Lake Superior State (Division III) has had a rocky season against Division-II schools with a record of 1-5.

Forward Kyle Waisanen has been the team’s biggest offensive weapon this season, stepping up the past 10 games with 11 goals and 9 assists, leading LSSU in points.

CMU junior James Bowen will get the start in net Friday, and his play will decide who starts in net Saturday, Mike Jakubik said.

Bowen’s has the best goals-against average of the team’s three goalies (3.77). Sophomore Zak Knauss and freshman Zach Silver have averages of 5.21 and 5.96, respectively.

“Everything rests on these two games, hopefully by large margins of victory,” Mike Jakubik said. “We’re hoping, if we win big, it’ll be recognized and we’ll make the playoffs.”

The team is ranked No. 12 in the Central Region after the last ranking period and only the top 10 teams earn playoff spots. The next ranking period ends Feb. 13, making the two games against Lake Superior State the team’s last push for a playoff bid.

If the team does not make the playoffs, it will be the first time since the league made changes to its postseason format four years ago.

The league originally had the top two ranked teams play but, to allow for more teams to compete, the league changed its format to allow the top 10 teams to compete for a spot at Nationals.

Power play

The team switched up its first power-play unit midway through last Friday’s game, moving to a five-forward line from a three-forward power-play line.

The adjusted power-play line moved the puck around, which led to a goal, and set up another as the opponents returned to even strength, Mike Jakubik said.

“We’re going to go with the same look on the power-play as last weekend, looking to have the same success.”