Ferris State Hockey Clinches Mason Cup Playoffs Spot With 5-2 Win Over Lake State

Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. – The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team clinched its spot in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Mason Cup Playoffs with a 5-2 win over Lake Superior State University Thursday (Feb. 26) in league play at Taffy Abel Arena.

The Bulldogs (7-25-1, 6-18-1 CCHA) collected three CCHA points with the win, clinching the eight seed for the Mason Cup Playoffs beginning next weekend. With the Ferris State win, Northern Michigan was eliminated from contention. Ferris State has now earned at least one league point in five consecutive games, the longest streak for FSU since Jan. 15 - Feb. 12, 2016 (seven games).

Valtteri Piironen set a career-high with four assists in the win, becoming the first Bulldog skater to record four assists in a single game since Nov. 22, 2014 when Matt Robertson did it against Alabama Huntsville. Tyler Schleppe extended his point streak to six games with a two-point effort (1-1-2), and both Carter Rapalje (1-1-2) and Gavin Best (0-2-2) recorded multi-point performances.

Martin Lundberg earned his fifth win of the season with a 20-save outing. Holden Doell, John Lundy and Max Dukovac each scored in the victory.

Rapalje put the Bulldogs up 1-0 at 6:45 in the first period with his 11th goal of the season. Piironen tipped a Laker pass in the Bulldog zone to Best who fired through center ice to Rapalje behind the defense. Rapalje beat LSSU goaltender Rorke Applebee five-hole for the goal. Best picked up his 12th assist this year and Piironen got his third.

Doell scored his third goal of the year at 8:26 to put FSU up 2-0 early. Piironen broke into the Laker zone with the puck and passed into the slot for Emerson Goode who tipped a shot to Doell on the backside for the finish. Piironen got his second assist of the game while Goode got his second of the year.

LSSU scored its first goal of the night at 11:59 with a powerplay goal from Calem Mangone. William Ahlrik and Ryan Beck assisted.

Lundy scored his fourth goal of the year on the powerplay at 8:32 in the second period. Best entered the zone with a pass to Schleppe across the blue line. Schleppe skated into the right circle and dropped a pass for Lundy who drew Applebee out of the crease with a drag move and finished a forehand shot. Lundy's second powerplay goal of the year gave Schleppe his 10th assist and Best his 13th. Schleppe set a new career-high with his 10th helper of the year.

Schleppe scored his sixth goal of the season at 8:36. Piironen took a one-timer from the point that Schleppe redirected past Applebee to give the Bulldogs a 4-1 advantage. Piironen's third assist of the game was his fifth of the year.

Wilson Dahlheimer brought LSSU within two goals at 12:23. Sasha Teleguine and Bryan Huggins assisted.

Dukovac wrapped up the scoring at 14:40 in the third period with his sixth goal of the season. Piironen skated from behind the Bulldog net into the Laker zone and passed off the right wall to Rapalje who took a shot that Applebee saved. It bounced to Dukovac in the left circle who one-timed a shot into the net. Rapalje got his eighth assist this year on the play and Piironen collected his fourth of the game.

As a team, the Bulldogs outshot the Lakers 27-22, blocked five shots and won 28 faceoffs. The Lakers had 12 blocked shots and 29 faceoff wins. FSU was 1-3 on the powerplay and 1-2 on the penalty kill.

Individually, Schleppe led the way with five shots on goal while Josh Zary finished with a game-high nine faceoff wins. Piironen finished the night +4 and each Schleppe, Rapalje and Tanner Rowe were +2.

The Bulldogs will play their final regular season game Friday (Feb. 27) against Lake State. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. (ET) with pregame coverage beginning on Sunny 97.3 FM at 6:30 p.m. (ET).