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Huskies’ offense shows, sink Lakers 4-2

MTU ends 3-game losing streak

Michigan Tech’s Logan Ganie (14) plays during the second period against Lake Superior State on Friday, Nov. 16, 2019, in Sault Ste. Marie. Ganie, an Alberta freshman, scored his first collegiate goal in the Huskies’ 4-2 win. (Michigan Tech University/Courtesy Photo)

SAULT STE. MARIE — Michigan Tech’s offense finally broke loose with a 4-2 win over Lake Superior State on Friday, ending a three-game losing streak.

Underclassmen were again the story of Tech’s offense.

Sophomore Trenton Bliss scored two goals and freshman Logan Ganie added his first as a Husky to lead the team. Sophomore Brian Halonen netted a goal just after midway in the third to punctuate the win.

“I’m proud we came out with the victory,” Michigan Tech head coach Joe Shawhan said. “They haven’t come easy this year,” Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. “It doesn’t matter how we get the points we’re just happy to get them.

Huskies’ underclassmen have scored 48 of the team’s 58 points this season, including 21 goals and 27 assists. The team’s juniors and seniors have combined for two goals and eight assists.

The Huskies (4-6, 2-5 WCHA) held a 3-0 lead in the third period before the Lakers struck for a couple goals.

Senior Matt Jurusik, starting his first game in goal in three weeks (Oct. 25 at Bowling Green), made 23 saves in the win.

Michigan Tech had 30 shots on goal. Lake Superior State goaltender Mareks Mitens had 26 saves.

The Huskies held a 2-0 lead after the first period, just the second time they’ve done that this season (Oct. 6 at Robert Morris).

Bliss’ first goal was a power-play goal assisted by Seamus Donohue and Eric Gotz. Ganie scored earlier, just three minutes into the game, with an assist from Colin Swoyer. Before Ganie’s goal, Alec Broetzman and Justin Misiak had scoring chances, including a Misiak shot off the crossbar.

Bliss added an unassisted goal six minutes into the second.

The Lakers (4-9, 2-3) finally answered with a goal from Max Humitz just after midway in the second, with assists from Yuki Miura and Will Riedell.

Halonen answered just after midway through the third with an insurance goal assisted by Justin Misiak.

Niko Esposito-Selivanov added a goal a minute later for Lake Superior State, with assists from Mitchell Oliver and Riedell.

Michigan Tech had been outscored 8-2 in its three-game losing streak and 16-6 in its six losses. Friday was the third time this season Tech scored at least three goals.

Michigan Tech has outscored teams 9-4 in first periods this season including Friday. By contrast, Lake Superior State has been outscored 18-8.

“I thought we were good in the first and played pretty well in the third,” Shawhan said. “We had a little lapse in the second but we made some changes and got back on track. We’re getting better all the time. We created more offense and got some goals tonight.”

The Huskies play the Lakers at 7:07 p.m. Saturday, seeking their second sweep of the season. Michigan Tech swept Robert Morris Oct. 5-6 to start the season.

Michigan Tech had lost six of its previous seven before Friday, including sweeps by Alaska in October and Minnesota State on Nov. 8-9.

The Huskies host Northern Michigan in the front end of a home-and-home series on Nov. 22-23. Michigan Tech faces NMU at 7:07 p.m. on Nov. 22 and visits Marquette at 6 p.m. on Nov. 23.

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