The Pirates threw everything they had at the Gremlins, and even held a 2-1 lead early in the second period, but took a pair of key penalties where the Gremlins were able to both pull even and then take the lead for good.

“This was a tremendous high school hockey game, I thought,” said Gremlins coach Corey Markham. “We went toe-to-toe. I thought it was a super-even game.

“We made some mistakes, but a lot of really good, good hockey.”

Special teams were a big part of the game throughout the night.

Houghton winger Landon Stevens turns with the puck in the offensive zone during a game Friday against Bay Port at Dee Stadium in Houghton. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

Houghton (20-0 overall) was awarded a power play just 4:27 into the contest, but could not find a way to get any pucks through the Pirates’ defensive stance. The bulk of the first period went the same way, as the Gremlins played with a lot of speed, but could not find ways to get pucks to the net.

That all changed when junior winger Michael Maillette pounced on a loose puck in the neutral zone, just out of the reach of the Pirates’ defenseman.

Maillette turned quickly, grabbed the puck, flew past a Pirates’ defender, and then made a quick move to his forehand before beating Pirates goaltender Devin Rustlie at 11:41.

For Maillette, who scored his 21st of the season, it was his third straight game with a goal.

“Mikey is a tremendous hockey player,” Corey Markham said. “His physical skills are as good as anyone, anywhere. His physical skills are tremendous. His hands and his feet are top notch. He has real quick moves in tight. He burnt the goalie when he scored that first goal.”

In the second period, the Pirates responded with a pair of power play goals just 1:06 apart. With co-captain Camden Markham off for tripping just 33 seconds in, the Gremlins were whistled again at 2:26 for having too many skaters on the ice.

Despite only having eight seconds of a two-man advantage, Ryan Hilbert evened the game just six seconds after the ensuing faceoff with a wrister from the high slot.

The Pirates remained on a one-man advantage after the goal and they took advantage of a miscommunication between a Gremlins defender and goaltender Bryant Lee to score a second power play goal at 3:38.

“I thought special teams became a big part of the game,” said Corey Markham. “I don’t really love that part of it, but it was part of the game. They stressed us. They scored a quick goal on when they had the 5-on-3, and then they scored shortly after to put us down, 2-1. We haven’t been down much this year. We had some communication errors, so it stressed us.”

Bay Port appeared to be in control of the game at that point, at least until Will Lyons took a major penalty for boarding for a hit on sophomore defenseman Hudson Markham. It took the Gremlins almost the entire five minutes to get a puck through, but when they did, it was all they needed.

As the advantage wound down, Camden Markham moved the puck into the slot where co-captain Gaborik Carlson was. Carlson passed up a chance to shoot and instead made a no-look, behind-the-back pass to alternate captain Landon Stevens in the left circle. Stevens, who was already winding up for a one-timer, unloaded on the pass, and beat Rustlie at 10:12, with just eight seconds left on the major power play.

The goal changed the game the way the Gremlins needed it to.

“It’s a play we try we try to run,” said Corey Markham. “Gaborik was the pop out guy. Camden actually hit Gaborik, and he threw a behind-the-back pass.

“Gaborik is one of our top passers. He sees the ice and knows where guys are.”

On their next man advantage, the Gremlins only needed one minute to strike. Maillette got the puck along the right boards and he waited until Carlson skated into the slot. As Carlson approached the net, Maillette fed him the puck. Carlson redirected it in at 12:57.

The Gremlins’ one-goal lead held through much of the third period until the Pirates’ coaching staff pulled Rustlie with 1:08 left. Stevens blocked a pass by the Pirates in the defensive zone, skated up to grab the puck in the neutral zone, carried it into the slot and deposited it in the net at 16:01.

Rustlie was pulled again with 44.3 seconds left, and senior defenseman Connor Raffaelli threw the puck into the empty net from the Gremlins’ zone at 16:28, sealing the win for the Gremlins.

Lee made 29 saves to earn the win for the Gremlins.

Petersen shines on back end

Although he did not figure into the scoring for the Gremlins, sophomore Oscar Petersen chipped in in all the ways the team needed him to. He played a physical game and was not afraid to step in to protect his teammates as necessary throughout the night. Corey Markhampraised his efforts.

“I have to say that Oscar Petersen might have had his best game as a high school player,” Corey Markham said. “He competed super hard. He’s had some struggles early in the year, and he’s really coming on for us.

“We’ve worked hard with Oscar, and he’s taken the coaching. He’s working on things we’ve been trying to get him to do. He was super physical, and he has been but more so tonight. He was strong, two hands on the stick around our goaltender, taking guys on. He doesn’t back down from anyone. That’s for sure. I just thought…that was his best high school game.”

Up next

The Gremlins are off until Friday, when they face No. 1 Detroit Catholic Central in the MIHL Showcase in Trenton. The Shamrocks enter the game 18-0 on the season. Opening faceoff is set for 3:30 p.m.

The Gremlins will then face Lake Forest Academy on Saturday at 1:15 p.m. to close out the showcase.