×

Huskies hockey sweeps Wildcats again

Michigan Tech defenseman Chase Pietila makes a pass in the offensive zone during a game against Northern Michigan Friday night at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

By DAVER KARNOSKY

dkarnosky@mininggazette.com

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team earned a second series sweep of the Northern Michigan Wildcats with a 3-2 win on Friday night at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton, and 4-0 win Saturday at the Berry Events Center in Marquette.

With the wins, the Huskies improved to 15-9-2 overall, and 11-5-2 in CCHA play.

HUSKIES POWER

TO WIN FRIDAY

HOUGHTON — Alternate captain Isaac Gordon scored for the second straight game, and for the third time in seven games, as the Huskies earned a 3-2 victory over the visiting Wildcats Friday night at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

The other two Huskies goals came on the man advantage, and both off the stick of freshman winger Elias Janssen.

Despite all the positives, the Huskies struggled in the game’s final 2:28 after the Wildcats pulled goaltender Ryan Ouellette for an extra attacker.

“We have to develop poise with the game on the line,” Huskies coach Joe Shawhan said. “I think you saw we iced it, what, three times? At least two of them we had absolute total control. Maybe Lauri Raiman, the first one, the guy might have been on him. He might (have), (so Raiman) didn’t have a chance really to flip it out or anything like that.

“We have to learn as a team, ‘OK, let’s keep moving out of our zone, give ourselves good areas to retrieve pucks, transition it. Don’t get two or three guys caught in the forecheck. Don’t pinch with the game on the line, and give them a 2-on-1 or a 2-on-1 at the end of a power play, when we have a one-goal lead in the third. Don’t take a 10-minute misconduct.”

Shawhan was quick to point out that the Wildcats, who struggled to start the season, are playing better at this point in the season.

“Northern Michigan’s good,” Shawhan said. “They’ve done a great job. They’ve done a great job. You give them a chance, you give them a 2-on-1, they’re going to put the puck in the net.

“The growth in that team is absolutely off the charts, in my opinion. I keep watching them, and they just keep getting better and better. They can defend hard as they get maturity, get a few more players in there. They’re doing a great job there.”

Janssen scored the game-winning tally on the power play in the third period when he knocked a rebound past Ouellette with 6:12 remaining in regulation.

Gordon picked the primary assist on the play.

Janssen’s first tally of the night came in the middle frame when he found a spot on the back door on the power play and sophomore center Max Koskipirtti got the puck across quickly to him for the goal at 11:47.

Gordon’s tally came in the late stages of the first period when he batted a rebound past Ouellette at 15:31. Gordon had gone into the zone on the forecheck, and then got around to the back side of the net, where he could bury a shot that snuck through the Wildcats’ netminder.

“I think, just now that the first one went in, in Bowling Green a while ago, (you) kind of just loosen up on your stick a little bit, maybe kind of drop some of the expectations that I came in with at the start of the year, as they weighed pretty heavy on me when I couldn’t score at the start of the year, or I was getting those chances. But, I think really it comes down to just knowing that I’m getting the chances and at least I know I’m playing.”

Grayden Slipec scored both goals for the Wildcats. His first came at 14:31 of the second period on a broken play in front of Huskies goaltender Ryan Mazella. His second came at the end of a Huskies’ power play early in the third period. His goal came at the end of a 2-on-1 after Aidyn Hutchinson created an odd-man rush by jumping out of the penalty box and colliding with a Huskies defender in Michigan Tech’s offensive zone.

Oullette made 33 saves in the loss for the Wildcats. Manzella stopped 18 for the Huskies in earning the win.

HUSKIES SWEEP WITH SHUTOUT IN MARQUETTE

MARQUETTE — The Huskies earned their third straight Saturday shutout after a 4-0 victory and weekend sweep of the Wildcats. The Huskies won their fifth regular season victory over the Wildcats this season and the sixth, counting an exhibition game. The Black and Gold also improved to 7-1-2 on the road.

Manzella improved to 6-0 between the pipes and backstopped the Huskies to all three Saturday shutouts. Derek Mullahy also shutout NMU at the Berry Events Center back in November.

“I just wanted to do everything I could do to help the team get the win,” Manzella said. “The ‘D’ (defense) in front of me have been amazing. They get all the credit tonight, and they made my life easy.”

“Ryan’s been unbelievable and a big lift for us,” Shawhan said. “The guys have confidence in him, and we haven’t seen a weak spot in his game yet. We’re going to ride it out.

“It was about as complete of a game as we’ve played this season. The guys competed hard and stayed in our structure. I’m happy for our seniors to have success in their last game in this building.”

Freshman center Logan Morrell opened the scoring 12:21 into the game when he tapped in a centering setup feed from captain Jack Works. Junior forward Stiven Sardarian added the second assist on Morrell’s 10th of the season which ties Sardarian for the team lead.

Freshman center Ryder Matter made it 2-0 with a snipe from below the goal line for his second of the season 6:29 into the second period. Sophomore defenseman Nick Williams and junior defenseman Viktor Hurtig assisted on the goal.

Koskipirtti added to the lead with a shorthanded goal with 1:09 left in the second, going in on a 2-on-1 and ripping it over the goalie’s glove his fifth of the season. Gordon and junior defenseman Kasper Vaharautio assisted.

NMU (4-21-1, 3-14-1 CCHA) pulled its goaltender early in the third and Jansson scored into the empty net for the final tally at 12:36. It was Jansson’s third of the weekend and seventh of the season.

The Huskies outshot the Wildcats 30-22. Manzella made his fifth career start and stopped all 22 shots he faced. He holds a 0.86 goals-against average and .965 save percentage through seven games after joining the team in late December.

Ouellette stopped 26 shots for the Wildcats.

UP NEXT

The Huskies are off until Winter Carnival on Feb. 7-8 when they host Bemidji State.

Starting at $2.99/week.

Subscribe Today