After finishing the fall campaign with three losses in the final four games, men's ice hockey began 2020 with a 5-2 win over Missouri State Friday night at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri.

The Lions scored the first goal of the game midway through the opening period when Billy Denis and Zach Mitchell set up Tommy Heinzman at 10:24.  Zach Martin split the pipes three minutes later on a play from Mitchell and Heinzman to give Lindenwood a 2-0 lead, but the Bears countered with a power play goal in the final minute to cut that advantage in half.

Aapo Nurminen gave the Lions a two-score margin once again at 7:31 of the second on a feed from Hayden Ursulak, but Missouri State pulled back within one on another power play just 17 seconds into the third.  With the score 3-2 in favor of Lindenwood, the Bears were still in the contest, but defense and a Vegard Feret goal assisted by Denis at 11:33 gave the Lions some breathing room.  They sealed the victory in the final minutes when three freshmen combined on a scoring play.  Blake Finley and Andy Willis set up Braden Shea at 17:37 for the final margin.

Lindenwood outshot Missouri State 50-21 and Cooper Seedott stopped 19 of the 21 pucks he faced to earn the victory in goal.

With the win, the Lions improved to 12-5-0 overall.  They will go for a series sweep when they face the Bears again Saturday afternoon.  The puck drops at 1:30 p.m. at the Centene Community Ice Center.