Second-period turnaround leads Vikings past Finlandia

The Lawrence University hockey team turned the tables on Finlandia University late in the second period and went on to a 6-3 Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association victory over the Lions on Friday night at the Appleton Family Ice Center.

Lawrence (3-6-0, 3-4-0 MCHA) trailed 3-2 and was skating two men down due to penalties, but the Vikings killed off the two-man advantage and then scored a pair of goals just moments later to seize the momentum. Lawrence then scored twice in the third period to seal the victory.

The Vikings led 2-1 early in the second period thanks to goals from Brad Scurfield and Phil Bushbacher, but Finlandia (3-5-0, 3-4-0) scored two goals in a 56-second span midway through the period to grab a 3-2 edge.

Lawrence then took a pair of penalties that left the Lions with a two-man advantage for 1:39. The Vikings killed off the two-man advantage and were still down a skater when Finlandia’s Kevin Smith was whistled for a five-minute major and a game misconduct.

With the teams now both skating a man down, Scurfield scored off a face-off at the 13:15 mark to tie the game at 3-3. Just 24 seconds later with Lawrence on the power play, Brandon Boelter’s slapshot found the back of the net and the Vikings led 4-3.

Buschbacher then scored 4:08 into the third to put Lawrence up 5-3, and Logan Lemirande added a goal with just 1:41 left to seal the win.

Bushbacher and Scurfield both had a pair of goals, and Lemirande had four assists to go with his goal.

Michael Baldino made 19 saves to pick up the win. Troy Chandler stopped 42 shots for Finlandia and took the loss.

Box score