Game Preview: Prior Lake vs. Lakeville North – January 14, 2025
Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 6:00 PM,
Ames Arena, Lakeville, MN
Prior Lake enters this matchup coming off a dominant 4-0 victory over Eagan on January 11, where they showcased their solid defensive play. The Lakers, with a 7-8-1 record, have shown flashes of brilliance this season, but inconsistency has been their biggest challenge.
The Lakers’ offense is led by captain Levi Eiter, who has 15 goals and 22 points, making him the focal point of Prior Lake’s offensive schemes. Alongside Eiter, Mario Bernard (14 points) and Parker Wenkus (13 points) have been key contributors, and they’ll need to be on top of their game to pressure Lakeville North’s defense.
In goal, Preston Kulics has a 3.05 goals-against average (GAA) and an .884 save percentage. He’ll need to improve his consistency if Prior Lake is to make a push for the playoffs. Their penalty kill has been strong at 82%, but their power play needs some work, sitting at just 13.2%.
Key Players:
Lakeville North comes into this game with a 6-9 record, following a tough 6-0 loss to Shakopee on January 11. While they’ve shown offensive promise, averaging 3.60 goals per game, their defense has been a significant liability, allowing 5.20 goals per game. Their goaltender, Carter Mayfield, has a 4.97 GAA and a .854 save percentage, which is among the highest in the conference. If the Panthers are to get back into the win column, they’ll need a much better performance from their defense and goaltending.
Offensively, Lakeville North has the talent to score, with junior forward Gunnar Conboy leading the team with 13 goals and 24 points. He’s been a consistent threat all season and will be looking to put up big numbers against a Prior Lake defense that has allowed 3.19 goals per game. Other key contributors include Kaden Decker, Samuel Foley, and Blake Bachmeier, all of whom have 6 goals apiece and will look to support Conboy in the offensive zone.
With a penalty kill that operates at just 76.4% and a power play that has been somewhat effective at 21.4%, the Panthers will need to tighten up. But first, they must find a way to limit Prior Lake’s offensive production.
Key Players:
Prediction: Prior Lake 5, Lakeville North 3
Given the defensive challenges Lakeville North has faced this season, and Prior Lake’s offensive depth, the Lakers have the upper hand in this matchup. While Lakeville North’s offense will certainly make it an interesting game, Prior Lake’s top line, combined with a solid performance from Kulics in goal, should propel them to a well-earned victory. The Panthers’ defensive issues and goaltending struggles will be too much to overcome, and Prior Lake will take this one on the road.
