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Breaking out

Gillies has first career multi-goal game as Huskies shutout Mavericks

David Archambeau/Daily Mining Gazette Michigan Tech’s Joel L’Esperance (11) and Alex Gillies (9) celebrate after Gillies scores in the second period of a game against Minnesota State Saturday at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

HOUGHTON — For about 10 minutes Saturday, the outcome of the WCHA matchup between the Michigan Tech Huskies and the No. 20 Minnesota State Mavericks appeared to be going to go to the visitors, but it did not last.

The Huskies used the momentum built by a power play midway through the opening period as a springboard to a 4-0 win over the Mavericks at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

After getting two goals and three points from winger Tyler Heinonen on Friday, the Huskies turned to another winger who had not scored in over a month Alex Gillies. Gillies, who had not found the back of the net since Dec. 9 against Bowling Green, scored not once, but twice in the victory.

For Gillies, helping goaltender Angus Redmond earn his third shutout of the season was more important than his own accomplishments.

“It’s good, obviously,” said Gillies. “We focus on our defense first. It’s nice to chip in offensively when you can, but I think the biggest thing was keeping them scoreless throughout the whole game.”

Gillies first tally came on the power play in the second period. Winger Gavin Gould picked up a clearing attempt by the Mavericks at center ice, turned and drove hard back into the offensive zone. When he ran out of room near the net, he fed the puck back out front where Gillies was waiting for it, and he buried a quick shot at 6 minutes, 11 seconds.

Gillies gave the Huskies some insurance early in the third when he found the net for the second time at 4:57 to give them a 3-0 lead. Winger Thomas Beretta got the puck to center Alex Smith along the right boards in the offensive zone. Smith waited for the play to develop before feeding the puck across the rink to Gillies as he entered the left circle. Looking up, Gillies placed the puck in the one open corner Nelson left, over his glove.

“I was just trying to get it toward the net,” said Gillies. “I saw a little room there and went for it.”

Huskies coach Mel Pearson was especially pleased with the patience Gillies showed on his second goal. Against Alaska-Anchorage last Saturday, Gillies had a quality scoring chance on a odd-man rush, but he forced his shot quickly and missed the net entirely.

“We needed that one last weekend against Anchorage,” said Pearson. “It was a similar chance, but he missed the net. [Saturday] I think he had a little more confidence.”

Another Huskies (15-9-6 overall, 12-3-5-2 WCHA) skater with some confidence is winger Chris Gerrie. After picking up only three assists through his first 19 games, Gerrie has three goals and five points in his last three thanks to an empty net tally with 3:12 left in the contest. Gerrie missed on his chance from out near center ice, but he chased his own shot down and outmuscled the Mavericks defender before stuffing the puck in the yawning goal.

Looking to build on their lead after Gillies’ first goal, the Huskies got just what they needed 1:37 later when defenseman Mitch Reinke wired a shot through a screen that Mavericks goaltender Aaron Nelson never saw. The play was set up by a strong offensive zone entry by assistant captain Reid Sturos. Sturos lost control of the puck into the right corner, but assistant captain Michael Neville tracked it down and eventually fed it over to Reinke for the shot. Sturos parked himself in the shooting lane, keeping Nelson from being able to see the puck until it was past him.

Mavericks (14-9-3 overall, 10-7-3-1 WCHA) coach Mike Hastings acknowledged that the Huskies’ relentless forecheck was difficult for his squad to handle throughout the night.

“If you get hemmed in your zone, you are playing with fire against them,” said Hastings. “When they do forecheck, if you don’t get clean exits, they are in some pretty good spots.”

WISH MAKING

Before the game, the Huskies honored Ethan Hainault, cancer survivor. His Make-A-Wish request was to be a Husky for a day. Hainault took warmups and then was included in the starting lineups for the Huskies.

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