The Lions offense exploded for five goals in the final period to seal a 9-4 victory over Ohio University to win the Central States Collegiate Hockey League (CSCHL) Playoffs Sunday afternoon at the Lindenwood Ice Arena in Wentzville, Missouri.

Senior Jake Townsend started the barrage with a power play goal at 2:50 of the first with help from Zach Mitchell and Mike Lozano.  The Bobcats answered right back with their own man-advantage tally at 9:07, but the Lions took a 2-1 lead off the stick of Lozano from Alex Kalau and Jordan Klimovsky with 2:38 remaining. 

Lindenwood opened up a 4-1 advantage by the midway point of the second.  Kalau buried a shot in the back of the net off a feed from Klimovsky at 1:34, followed by an unassisted goal from Victor Lombardi at 8:39, but Ohio stayed in the contest with an even strength effort just 90 seconds later and the Lions carried a 4-2 lead into the final period, one that would ultimately feature seven goals.

Brendan Murphy scored the first for Lindenwood on a play set up by Nick Greene just 36 seconds into the third.  Mitchell extended the advantage to 6-2 with a power play drive at 3:22, followed by an unassisted play from Townsend two minutes later.  The Lions took a six-goal lead when Ryan Finnegan and Murphy set up Aapo Nurminen for a power play blast at 6:32. The Bobcats scored short-handed and added an even strength goal in the next eight minutes, but that still left them four goals behind.  Lindenwood finished things off when Tommy Heinzman set up Mitchell with 58 seconds remaining in regulation.

The Lions outshot Ohio 46-26 and Cooper Seedott stopped 22 of the 26 pucks he faced to earn the victory in goal.  Lindenwood scored three times on six power play chances while holding the Bobcats to one goal on four man-advantage opportunities. 

Jordan Klimovsky added two points to his weekend effort with a couple of assists and was named the CSCHL Tournament Most Valuable Player. 

The Lions will now focus their attention to the American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division I National Championship March 21-26 at the Children's Health StarCenters at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas.  After an opening round bye, Lindenwood will face the winner of No. 16 seed Jamestown versus No. 17 seed Robert Morris (Ill.).  The opening faceoff for the Lions is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. March 22.