Making it count
Playoff positioning is the focal point for Huskies
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BEMIDJI -- At this point in the season, every single WCHA point carries with it a tremendous amount of meaning. It has been one of the harshest lessons the Michigan Tech Huskies have had to learn during the Mel Pearson era.
In 2014, the Huskies missed out on a home playoff spot by just a single point. In 2015, the Huskies finished one point behind the Minnesota State Mavericks in the race for the MacNaughton Cup. Last season, the Huskies finished in a tie with the Mavericks for the Cup.
These reasons were brought to the forefront of Pearson’s -- and the seniors’ -- mind in the dying seconds of last Saturday’s road tilt with the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers. Sophomore Jake Lucchini’s shot through traffic that found a way to beat Jordan Uhelski with just 11 seconds left in regulation earned the Huskies a chance for a second point in a game where they nearly surrendered three.
Instead, they got to the shootout where freshman Chris Gerrie scored another key goal to earn a second point for the Huskies.
“It was a big goal,” said Pearson of Lucchini’s tally. “We were 11 seconds away from getting no points. I think people don’t realize that, but you fight, fight and battle, and it was huge two points and Jake made a great play on it.
“You can usually look back at certain plays here or there, good or bad, that turn your season one way or the other. I think if things go well for us, we might look back and say, ‘Wow, that goal got us two extra points and we got the MacNaughton Cup by a point or two and that two points was huge.'”
With the two-point contest added to the three points the Huskies earned on Friday, they took five points away from a rink that has traditionally been a tough place for them to succeed in. The Huskies held the Chargers -- who could potentially be their first-round playoff opponent -- to just one point, which could make or break their season as well.
“They play hard,” said Pearson. “They are a team with something to fight for and they fought hard.
“We were fortunate, when you look at it, to come out of there with five points. You want six, but five is pretty darn good.”
Last weekend, the Huskies’ offense continued to build off a strong showing against the Mavericks the weekend before by scoring nine goals against the Chargers. Not blessed with the consistent scoring of a Tanner Kero or an Alex Petan this season, the Huskies have needed to score by committee. Over this four-game stretch, the Huskies have gotten great contributions from several different skaters in the form of multi-goal games and/or weekends.
Senior Tyler Heinonen scored twice and added an assist on Jan. 20 against the Mavericks. Junior Alex Gillies scored twice the following night against the Mavericks.
In Friday’s contest, assistant captain Reid Sturos scored twice, both shorthanded. Saturday, junior Matt Roy netted a pair.
“He has a hard shot, a heavy shot, so he does not have to take the big windup” said Pearson of Roy. “Anytime he gets it through, it is heavy enough that if the goalie gets just a piece of it, it has a chance to go through.”
Two freshmen continued their hot hands as well.
Defenseman Mitch Reinke scored a goal each night, pushing his point streak to four games, scoring three goals and five points over that span. Reinke now has four goals and 13 points on the season, but Pearson and his staff see his potential for even better numbers than he has already picked up.
“He’s playing like a senior, not a freshman,” said Pearson. “We are working with him to make sure he gets his shots away. He has so much patience and poise. Sometimes he wants to look too [long] to get it to Shane Hanna on the power play instead of shooting it.”
Gerrie’s goal in the shootout Saturday did not count for him statistically, but essentially, he has scored four goals in the last five games. Considering he did not score his first career goal until Jan. 14, Gerrie has been hot of late, and that confidence is coming at the right time for the Huskies.
“He has two good linemates in Heinonen and Lucchini,” said Pearson. “Chris has been a good compliment to that line.”
This weekend, the Huskies are back on the road to face the WCHA-leading Bemidji State Beavers. The Beavers hold a four-point lead on the Huskies in the WCHA thanks to a record of 16-4-2-2 in conference play. On the flip side of their conference record, the Beavers have not won a game in nonconference play, going 0-7-1 on the year.
Bemidji State’s defensive prowess begins with the stellar play of junior goaltender Michael Bitzer. Bitzer is 16-10-3 on the year in 29 appearances. He sports a 1.65 goals against average and a .932 save percentage.
Up front, the Beavers are led by senior Phillip Marinaccio, who has a team-high 13 assists and 22 points. He was held off the scoresheet against the Huskies back in December.
Senior Charlie O’Connor has also be solid, scoring six goals and 18 points. He posted two goals and one assist against the Huskies already this season.
GAME TIMES
Game times for this weekend are 8:07 p.m. both Friday and Saturday night at the Sanford Center.