Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics, Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield, No. 1 vs No. 2 — a spectacle in sports that rarely disappoints. That was no different for the Division II Grand Valley State men’s hockey club over the weekend.

The Lakers (15-3-1), ranked No. 2 in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Central Division, squared off against the first-place Lindenwood – Belleville Lynx.

The Lakers split a hard-fought series filled with high-flying, smash-mouth hockey. GVSU was bested in Friday night’s game 2-1, but bounced back and secured a 2-1 victory of its own in game two.

In Friday night’s action, GVSU came out firing but was unable to find the back of the net. LU — Belleville matched the intensity and out-skated the Lakers in the final 10 minutes of the first period, netting one goal in that time.

In the second period, after an early Laker penalty kill, the offense got to work. GVSU attacked LU — Belleville, forcing the defense to commit a penalty halfway through the period. The power-play unit capitalized, as forward Collin Finkhouse was able to even the score at 1-1.

The offense kept the pressure on, but a late penalty in the second led to a LU — Belleville power-play goal to send the Lynx ahead 2-1 before the second intermission.

The third period was a grind for both teams. Each side scrapped but was unable to find the back of the net. The GVSU power play that was successful in the second period was unable to light the lamp in the third, going 0 for 3 in the frame, as the Lakers dropped game one.

Game two of the series was another fast and physical game, but the Lakers turned it up to another level. GVSU dominated the first period, tallying 23 shots compared to LU — Belleville’s eight. Finkhouse again initiated the scoring for the offense, giving the Lakers a 1-0 lead near the end of the first period.

“(The LU — Belleville defense) is good, but if you forecheck them they turn the puck over,” Finkhouse said. “Quick plays off of turnovers are where we got our goals.”

The Finkhouse line struck again in the third period, as senior Michael Bishop netted a goal of his own. Tony Russo and Finkhouse were credited with the assists on the play.

The line of Finkhouse, Russo and Bishop has been producing goals at a high rate for the Lakers in the past month. Russo, the workhorse, fights for pucks in the corners, while Finkhouse picks up the puck to find Bishop in front of the net — the exact scenario of the line’s third period goal.

GVSU’s two goals were enough for goaltender Spencer Craig. After letting a puck slip by in a 4-on-4 situation in the second period, Craig was a brick wall in front of the net the rest of the game. The defense was highly disruptive all weekend, stymieing the LU — Belleville offense.

“Guys were selling out in front of me to block shots and kept the opportunities to the outside,” Craig said. “It was easy to play behind (the defense) this weekend.”

Craig started both games in net over the weekend, going away from the normal one-two punch of Craig and senior goalie Jiri Aberle.

“We felt that (Craig) deserved the opportunity to play Friday night,” said GVSU head coach Mike Forbes. “After his performance (in game one), we decided to go back to the same lineup.”

Although the Lakers were unable to get the sweep to take over first place in the division, a split against a top-tier team was a strong showing for GVSU. The team battled every second and left everything on the ice.

Forbes was pleased with his team’s performance.

“That was the best six periods of hockey we have played all year,” Forbes said.

After a weekend break, GVSU will hit the ice again against Miami University (Ohio). The two-game series will be played in Miami, Ohio on Dec. 4 and 5.