Michigan Tech’s Ryland Mosley controls the puck in the offensive zone during an exhibition game against Lakehead Monday at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — After the Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team outworked the Lake Superior State Lakers on Saturday in an exhibition game, coach Joe Shawhan was hoping for more of the same Monday evening as they played a second exhibition game, this time against the Lakehead Thunderwolves.

The Huskies gave their coaching staff a lot to think about by scoring two goals a period en route to a 6-0 win at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

“I liked the effort again,” Shawhan said. “I wasn’t thrilled with the second period from the perspective of our veterans…but I thought the regrouping in the third period, the compete level, the attention to detail in the third period, it was very good.”

The line of co-captain Logan Pietila, assistant captain Ryland Mosley and freshman winger Kyle Kukkonen connected just 4:13 into the contest. They then clicked three more times in the contest with all three skaters scoring at least once.

Shawhan likes the early chemistry the trio is building.

“They’re developing chemistry,” he said. “Hopefully, they develop themselves into being a legitimate 35-point, No. 1 line in our league.”

Kukkonen was the recipient of a pass from Pietila that he then redirected behind Thunderwolves goaltender Brock Aiken for the game’s first goal.

Mosley scored the line’s second goal when he took a pass in the slot from Kukkonen and buried a quick wrist shot on the power play 9:54 into the second period. Pietila added an insurance goal at 14:13 when he took a pass from Mosley in the high slot, made a move around a defender and beat Aiken with a wrist shot.

Pietila’s second tally came 9:15 into the third period with another wrist shot from the slot.

“I think it’s going good,” said Pietila. “I mean, there’s a little bit more chemistry. We were kind of shut down on Saturday, but, yeah, it feels good to get going and hopefully (we’re) going to keep it going.”

A junior who joined the team mid-season as a freshman, Mosley is excited to hit the ice each shift with Pietila and Kukkonen.

“(I am) using my speed getting in the battle, getting the puck for them,” said Mosley. “Then they support really well, and I think I support them pretty well to get the puck back to them.”

The other two Huskies tallies came off the stick of freshman winger Kash Rasmussen on the power play at 12:03 of the first period, and co-captain Arvid Caderoth at 10:25 of the third.

After the Huskies’ power play units were held scoreless against the Lakers, Shawhan was pleased to see both units find the net against the Thunderwolves.

“(We) got a couple power play goals,” he said. “That was good. We didn’t get any in our last game, and both units scored in the power play. So that was good to see.”

One player that stood out to Shawhan was junior defenseman Jed Pietila. A forward in youth hockey, he has been working hard to transition to defense with the Huskies. Monday, he helped quarterback the top power play unit. His hard effort reminded his coach of former Huskies defenders Tyrell Buckley and Eric Gotz.

“If he can compete like (Buckley) and then and then develop some offensive (Gotz)-type offensive flair from the left side…I wouldn’t put past him,” Shawhan said.

Sophomore Alex Nordstrom is another skater the Huskies are considering transitioning to defense in certain situations. Monday, he played some shifts on defense and some up front on the penalty kill. Shawhan is excited about the prospect of using either Nordstrom or senior Jake Crespi in a dual role like he played Nordstrom Monday.

“That is the way that I would lean as far as the extra player this year,” Shawhan said. “I’m not sure about our depth at the defensive position.

“I don’t think our depth is at the defensive position with the ability to defend and make plays with the puck. I think there’s still work to be done there and improvement to be made by some individuals. So, putting some guys back there that have some good hands, and can play special teams, gives you the availability to move, a couple shifts up front, a lot of time on defense.”

Freshman goaltender Max Varyrynen did not see a lot of work in net, but he came up with a couple of stops in key moments in the contest. He finished his night with 16 saves.