SAULT STE. MARIE – Lake Superior State scored once in each period and kept Northern Michigan University out of its net until the final few seconds of the second period to take a 3-1 victory at Taffy Abel Arena on Friday night.

With the win, LSSU (12-19-4 overall, 9-12-4 WCHA) took a 2-1 lead in the 2015-16 Cappo Cup series that will conclude tonight back in Sault Ste. Marie.

The loss dealt a blow to the Wildcats chances of getting home ice in the first round of the league playoffs, even though the team they were tied with, Ferris State, lost 4-3 to Bowling Green on Friday.

Dominik Shine’s team-leading 14th goal of the season pulled the Wildcats (15-12-6, 12-9-4) within one with four seconds remaining in the second period, but NMU couldn’t dent the twine again against Lakers goalie Gordon Defiel, who finished with 27 saves. He outdueled Northern senior Mathias Dahlstrom, who made 28 saves but allowed goals to LSSU’s Bryce Schmitt late in the first period and Jake Hand early in the second.

Hand’s came on a power play 48 seconds after NMU’s James Vermeulen was whistled for cross checking.

The Lakers scored their third goal with six seconds remaining into an empty while shorthanded when Mitch Hults flung it in.

Earlier, Shine netted the first goal of the game with four minutes remaining in the first period.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.