Dave Archambeau/Daily Mining Gazette Michigan Tech’s Trenton Bliss (28) scores a goal while teammate Dylan Steman (8) watches during a game Saturday at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

HOUGHTON — What a difference 24 hours makes.

After losing 5-3 to the Northern Michigan Wildcats on Friday at the Berry Events Center in Marquette, the Michigan Tech Huskies bounced back with a 3-1 victory at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

Wildcats coach Grant Potulny summed up the difference in the two games succinctly.

“I thought we didn’t cash in on some opportunities,” he said. “That gave them a little more energy. I just thought they were quicker on races, a little bit more competitive on those 10-foot battles.”

The visitors jumped on the Huskies a little bit in the opening minutes of the contest, perhaps hoping to catch Huskies sophomore Robbie Beydoun while he was still cold between the pipes. Michigan Tech weathered the early storm and then found some success on the power play, one of the few aspects of Friday’s game that head coach Joe Shawhan actually liked.

Michigan Tech took an early 1-0 lead on the power play when sophomore defenseman Seamus Donohue fired a puck that was tipped by a Wildcats’ defender past goaltender Atte Tolvanen at 8:17. The goal was set up by a give and go between Donohue and freshman winger Trenton Bliss in which Bliss found Donohue in the right circle for the shot.

“I was thrilled with the way we played,” said Shawhan. “The only loss is one you don’t learn something from. It’s nice to bounce back, to know that it is within us to bounce back and have a good game.”

Bliss, who was a non-factor in Friday’s loss, chipped in a goal of his own in the second period on another Huskies’ advantage.

Co-captain Jake Lucchini set up along the right boards. He attempted to feed the puck in front to co-captain Dylan Steman, who wanted make a quick move. Steman actually lost control of the puck, but it slid across the crease and right to a waiting Bliss, who buried it at 13:44.

“We were really buzzing in that power play,” said Bliss. “I think I had three shots, just missing the net. Finally one was able to come a little closer to the net, I guess. I was able to tap it in.”

Shawhan was really pleased with his team’s movement on the power play, which finished the night 2-for-4 and 3-for-8 on the weekend.

“It’s been moving the puck pretty consistently,” he said about the power play. “(Our) puck movement is good, zone entry is good, possession time in the zone is good. The two goals tonight on the power play made the difference in the game”

Bliss’ tally gave the Huskies their second lead of the night. The first came at the 14:45 mark of the opening frame.

Sophomore winger Justin Misiak picked off a clearing pass at the Wildcats’ blue line. From there, he circled around and into a 2-on-1 with sophomore winger Raymond Brice. Misiak and Brice fed the puck back and forth before Misiak deposited the puck in the empty net after Tolvanen overplayed the initial pass.

The first two-goal lead was short-lived. The Wildcats cut into the advantage less than two minutes later when Mitchell Slattery crossed in front of Beydoun and tipped a shot from Luke Voltin into the net at 16:38.

Apart from the goals, Beydoun was the difference in the contest, making 28 saves to earn the win. In the first period, he came up with a huge save stacking the pads on a 2-on-1 between Garrett Klee and Caleb Schroer to keep the Huskies up 1-0. He stopped another odd-man rush on his own team’s power play in the third period when he robbed Denver Pierce, who had a lead pass from Klee, with an outstretched left leg.

“I think we put together a full 60 minutes,” said Beydoun, who was making his third appearance of the season. “(We) had a tough night last night in Marquette. We came out strong, right from the puck drop. Northern came out flying too. They were a really aggressive team. I think we responded really well the whole game.”

With the win, the Huskies improved to 9-6-1 overall and 8-1-1-1 in WCHA play. The Wildcats fell to 7-10-0 overall and 6-4-0 WCHA.

Scoring

Northern Michigan 1 0 0 – 1

Michigan Tech 2 1 0 – 3

First period

1, MTU, Seamus Donohue (Trenton Bliss, Jake Lucchini), PP, 8:17

2, MTU, Justin Misiak (Raymond Brice), 14:45

3, NMU, Mitchell Slattery (Luke Voltin), 16:38

Second period

4, MTU, Bliss (Dylan Steman, Lucchini), PP, 13:44

Third period

None

Saves

NMU, Tolvanen 12 15 9 – 36

MTU, Beydoun 9 7 12 – 28

Power plays

NMU: 0/1; MTU: 2/4

Penalties

NMU: 5/10; MTU: 2/4