Story Book

Two games. Two overtime loses. One playoff matchup.

The Oswego State Lakers will get their shot at redemption tonight. It’s the story that every sports fan loves to hear. Your team can’t get past your rivals in the regular season and you finally knock them off in the post season, on their home ice in front of a sold crowd no less. Will it happen tonight? That’ll be decided in the very near future.

Team Scope

Lakers- Oswego State has been heating up recently. With 15 goals in their last two games they seem to be on the way back to last season’s form. They are peaking at the right time and are coming off one of their best games under Coach Gosek. Coach Digby was not shy to give praise after the first round win. They’re right. The back check was stellar and the defense really benefited from that. If they can keep that play up tonight the fans at the Stafford Ice Arena will be having a whole lot of fun.

Cardinals- The No. 1 seed and the No. 3 team in Div. III hockey are on the verge on sweeping the Lakers this year. They are dangerous and never roll over and die when down in a game. They tied their final two games of the season to Brockport and Geneseo, granted they already clinched and were most likely doing some different things. This is still a good sign for the very confident Lakers.  The Cardinals offense has stayed hot all year and that gives them the sixth ranked offense in the nation. They will need to score more than a couple to win tonight, it’s their bread and butter.

Lineup Card

Oswego State will be sending out the same exact lineup as they did in their win over Brockport. Why change what isn’t broken? Adrian Ignagni is still missing and CuJo Junior is still the backup.

SUNY Plattsburgh will be without the 11 goal scorer Kevin Emmerling. He played in the season finale but is a scratch tonight. The Cardinals do have Pat Eagan who averages over a point per game. Their lineup is different from their last two games in the season, but as previously mentioned, they were running a few different looks out there.

Coach’s Corner

This team has plenty of history. The hype around each matchup is insane. These two teams seem to play better when they meet. Also, on the road the Lakers play better. The entire locker room is confident right now, they all know they just have to bring their same level of play from the last two games into tonight. Gosek talked about how they have to be better when defending the rush. They were exposed more than few times this year in that aspect against the Cardinals. If they can fix that, or at least do what they did against Brockport and clog the neutral zone they will be in good shape.

Players to Watch

Lakers- Kenny Neil

One of the top Oswego forwards will need to be his “Real Deal” self tonight. He has a goal and an assist this year against SUNY Plattsburgh. Coming off a two goal performance he will need to bring that into the mad house tonight. His speed and grittiness are two keys you need in playoff hockey and should be on full display tonight.

Cardinals- Spencer Finney

The senior is fully aware of how hot the Laker offense has been lately. His defense is no slouch in front of him and will give him loads of help. He will need to be their best penalty killer all night, and the best player overall. His stats are good and he has the ability to win any game. He hasn’t been speculator this year against the Lakers and will need to correct that.

By the Numbers

Seeding

Lakers- Fourth seed in the SUNYAC

Cardinals-First seed in the SUNYAC

Goals per Game

Lakers- 3.15

Cardinals- 4.24

Powerplay

Lakers- 18-91 (19.8%) [No. 27 in Div. III]

Cardinals- 31-113 (27.4%) [No. 5 in Div. III]

Penalty Kill

Lakers- 92-106 (86.8%) [No. 20 in Div. III]

Cardinals- 70-86 (81.4%) [No. 43 in Div. III]

Game Prediction

This one will be physical. This one will be tense. A lot is on the line and with the packed house tonight it will be a great game. These teams matchup very well. Oswego has the better penalty kill and Plattsburgh has the better powerplay. Both goalies have the clutch gene. Both teams don’t like each other This one will come down to the final minute.

Lakers win 4-3