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A little magic: Huskies blank Bulldogs, 3-0, to open Winter Carnival series

Huskies blank Bulldogs, 3-0, to open Winter Carnival series

The Huskies' Jake Crespi (10), Collin Swoyer (24) and Brett Thorne (27) celebrate after Crespi scored a goal during a game against the Bulldogs Friday night at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

HOUGHTON — With freshman winger Carson Bantle out of the lineup, the Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team was looking for a little Winter Carnival magic Friday night, and they got a lot more than they asked for, scoring a goal in each period and holding the visiting Ferris State Bulldogs off the scoreboard in a 3-0 win at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

The Huskies got three goals from three different goal scorers, and head coach Joe Shawhan was happy with the depth his team showed throughout the contest.

“I was proud of the effort from the guys,” he said. “I thought everybody played hard through all the periods. I think we stayed above our checks. I thought we figured out how to transition the puck better.

“I thought our power play had good movement. I thought our penalty kill contributed well. I thought our goaltending was good.”

He also figured that being home for the first time since Jan. 23 made a difference as well.

“I think our guys were relieved to play a game at home,” Shawhan said. “I think they were excited.”

There were some students as well as some family in the stands for the game, and Shawhan mentioned that the atmosphere added to the Huskies’ efforts.

“It was fun, and we heard the people who were in the rink,” said Shawhan. “It was really nice to hear some cheers and to see some faces in the rink. It really made a big difference to me and I am sure it did to the players as well.”

Sophomore winger Jake Crespi got the Huskies (13-5-1 overall, 4-2-0 WCHA) on the board by scoring what stood as the game-winning tally at 15:21 of the opening frame.

Assistant captain Colin Swoyer got the play started by firing a shot from the boards along the left side of the offensive zone. Bulldogs (1-16-1 overall, 0-11-1 WCHA) goaltender Roni Salmenkangas made the save, but the puck kicked at a similar angle into the right circle, where captain Alec Broetzman was skating through. Broetzman wasted little time moving the puck into the high slot, where Crespi was positioned. Crespi ripped a quick wrist shot that caromed off the post and past Salmenkangas before the Bulldogs’ starter could position for the shot.

The goal was Crespi’s third on the season.

“It’s a different role I have this year than last year,” Crespi said. “It’s nice to playing with some good players. Everyone is working hard.”

Crespi, who was playing on a line with Broetzman, has been working hard to learn from the Huskies’ captain.

“He’s such a solid player to play with,” said Crespi. “He knows all the systems really well, so he can talk to me if I am confused. You know what you are getting game in and game out with him.”

Shawhan feels that Crespi has been making some key strides in his second season with the team, and that is why he is starting to find some success.

“He’s put honesty in his game,” Shawhan said. “There’s no excuses to his game. He’s self-accountable, which is allowing him to grow.”

Broetzman, who came into the night with seven goals and 13 points on the season, factored into the Huskies’ second goal of the night.

On their second power play of the game, Broetzman’s power play unit switched up their approach and it paid dividends about a minute and a half into the advantage. Senior defenseman Tyler Rockwell got the play started by first faking a shot at the point before moving the puck over to assistant captain Trenton Bliss in the left circle. Without a lane to the net himself, Bliss moved the puck down to the bottom of the circle where freshman center Arvid Caderoth was positioned. Caderoth quickly pushed the puck out into the slot, and Broetzman buried a one-timer at 6:56.

Broetzman is excited to be chipping in offensively, but happier with the team’s continued success.

“Over time, we have gotten better and better with every game that has come along,” said Broetzman. “Things are just coming together, and I think it is starting to show.”

Looking for a quick start to the third period in order to potentially put the game out of reach, the Huskies jumped out with pressure and were rewarded just 1:47 in.

Sophomore winger Tristan Ashbrook moved the puck into the corner to the right of Salmenkangas. Freshman center Nick Nardella won the race to the puck and drove behind the Bulldogs’ net with it. Just as he reached the net, he made a quick backhand pass out into the slot, where junior winger Tommy Parrottino could skate into it and fire off a shot quickly, which is exactly what he did.

From there, sophomore goaltender Blake Pietila shut the door, making three of his 12 saves on the night and preserving his shutout bid, winning his 10th game of the season in the process.

MACINNES CUP UP FOR GRABS SATURDAY

The two teams will meet again Saturday at 6 p.m. at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena with the MacInnes Cup up for grabs.

Scoring

FSU 0 0 0 – 0

MTU 1 1 1 – 3

First period

1, MTU, Jake Crespi (Alec Broetzman, Colin Swoyer), 15:21

Second period

2, MTU, Broetzman (Arvid Caderoth, Trenton Bliss), PP, 6:56

Third period

3, MTU, Tommy Parrottino (Nick Nardella, Tristan Ashbrook), 1:47

Saves

Salmenkangas, FSU 14 12 11 – 37

Pietila, MTU 7 2 3 – 12

Power plays

FSU: 0/3; MTU: 1/3

Penalties

FSU: 3/6; MTU: 3/6

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