Michigan Tech’s Justin Misiak (17) shoots against Minnesota State on Dec. 7, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

The Michigan Tech hockey team returns to play at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena for the first time in three weeks.

The Huskies (12-5-1, 4-2 WCHA) are riding their second four-game winning streak of the season with Ferris State visiting for a Winter Carnival Friday-Saturday series.

Puck drop is 7:07 p.m. today and 6:07 p.m. Saturday.

The Huskies have lost just twice since mid-December. They’ve won 11 of their last 13 games. Tech finished a seven-game road trip with a 2-1 win at Ferris State on Tuesday.

Ferris State (1-15-1, 3-12), meanwhile, has struggled to establish consistent defense and goaltending this season.

The Bulldogs have been outscored 73-38 overall by Division I opponents, with its lone victory being a 7-0 thrashing against Div. III Trine University on Jan. 16.

The Huskies’ success has so far rested on a widespread offensive and defensive effort.

Seven different Huskies players have 10 or more points going into this weekend, led by Trenton Bliss’ 17 points including a team-high eight goals.

Freshman forward Arvid Caderoth, who was named this week’s WCHA Rookie of the Week, is third on the team with 12 points behind captain Alec Broetzman’s 13.

Caderoth had an eight-game point streak ended in Tuesday’s win at Ferris State. He scored 11 points including his two goals in that stretch.

Sophomore transfer Tristan Ashbrook had scored a goal in four straight games but that streak also ended in Tuesday’s win. The Manistique native who transferred from RPI has five goals and an assist in nine games.

Brian Halonen has picked up the torch in a point streak with points in the last four straight games, notching two assists on Tuesday. He has a goal and four assists in that stretch, and five goals and 10 total points in 16 games.

Sophomore goaltender Blake Pietila won his ninth game of the season on Tuesday. He made 29 saves. His performance has ranked among the best in the country throughout the season.

Pietila’s .941 save percentage in 13 games is fourth-best in the country. Of goalies who have played 10 or more games, it’s second only to Minnesota State’s Dryden McKay (.959).

The Huskies’ offense is well outside of the top 20 in the country, but their defense has been key. Their 1.95 goals allowed per game is fourth-best in the country.

Outside of Pietila being a highlight in the crease, the Huskies have been efficient this season in limiting opposing offensive chances, deflecting opposing attacks to the wings, clearing the slot with concise breakouts and transitions up the ice. As a result, five Huskies defensemen and 20 players overall have a positive plus-minus. Junior defenseman Tyrell Buckley (plus-7) and sophomore defenseman Chris Lipe (plus-6) are team leaders in the category. Just eight Huskies have a negative plus-minus.

By contrast, just eight Bulldogs players have a 0 or positive plus-minus.

Huskies reschedule LSSU series

Michigan Tech announced it added games with Lake Superior State on Tuesday Feb. 16 and Tuesday Feb. 23.

Opening faceoff is 2:07 p.m. both days.

The series was originally scheduled for Jan. 22-23 but was postponed because of positive COVID-19 test results in Michigan Tech’s program.