In a four-day span, the Skaneateles boys ice hockey team would play three times, the results of those contests determining where it would get seeded for the Section III Division II playoffs. And the Lakers won all three of them, in turn securing one more home contest as it will face CBA/J-D in the opening round of the Division II playoffs this weekend at Allyn Arena. Of the three, the most one-sided effort came at the start, when the Lakers went to New Hartford last Wednesday night and used a big late-game surge to pull away and beat the Spartans 6-0. New Hartford, winners of the last two state Division II titles, fell way down this season after a mass exodus of talent to graduation and the junior ranks. Yet the Lakers had only played them to a 2-2 tie in their first encounter a month earlier at Allyn Arena. On hostile ice, the Lakers stayed patient, not getting a goal until the second period. It only led 1-0 going into the final period, but then ran away with five goals in that last frame as the cumulative pressure of 41 shots took a toll on the Spartans. Brendan Major led the charge, scoring twice and adding a pair of assists. Jon Rogalia also had two goals, with Jacob Cooney gaining three assists. Dan Tarolli and Tom Jones got the other goals as Tyler Strods, Shane Holleran and Scot Longtin earned one assist apiece. Trevor Diamond didn’t have to face much pressure, but still stopped all 16 shots he faced. Now the Lakers looked for a regular-season sweep of Auburn Friday night at Casey Rink – and got it with spectacular ease, roaring to a 7-2 victory over the Maroons. Quite unlike their Jan. 24 encounter, which the Lakers won 3-2 in overtime, Skaneateles took over in the middle stages, breaking a 1-1 first-period tie by slamming Auburn for four goals and seizing a 5-2 lead. Pulling further away in the final period, the Lakers saw Cooney, with two goals, led a deep and well-balanced attack. Brendan Major earned a goal and two assists, while Rogalia picked up two assists. Owen Kuhns had one goal and one assist as Tom Bronk, Rory Callahan and Matt Clymer also took turns finding the net. Mitchell Jones picked up an assist as Diamond turned away 23 of the 25 shots he faced. The regular season concluded back at Allyn Arena Saturday against Oswego, where Skaneateles did not show any fatigue, instead playing its best at the back end and beating the Buccaneers 6-4. Oswego quickly went to a 2-1 first period, but again Skaneateles roared into top form in the second period, surging ahead 4-2 and putting up more offense in the third period to withstand the Bucs’ comeback attempt. Diamond had to make 40 saves, twice the total of Oswego counterpart Chase Izyk. Meanwhile, Major delighted the home fans with a three-goal hat trick, adding an assist as Cooney picked up three assists. Rogalia chimed in by scoring twice as Jones picked up the other goal and Tyler Stanton earned an assist. These wins left Skaneateles with a final regular-season mark of 13-6-1, 10-5-1 in league play, as it looked ahead to CBA/J-D and, if its wins there, a semifinal shot at undefeated, state no. 1-ranked Cazneovia in the semifinal round.