MANKATO, Minn. — After a loss on Friday night, the Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team battled back on Saturday, topping No. 12 Minnesota State in overtime to earn a split on the road. With the split, the Huskies are now 13-9-2 overall and 9-5-2 in CCHA play.

HUSKIES SHUTOUT MAVERICKS SATURDAY

The Huskies shutout the Mavericks 1-0 Saturday at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. Freshman goaltender Ryan Manzella earned his second shutout — both coming in 1-0 victories on back-to-back Saturday nights. Isaac Gordon scored the game-winner 1:45 into the extra session.

“I’m really proud of the performance. Every guy competed extremely hard which is what we lacked last night and our attention to detail was strong,” Huskies coach Joe Shawhan said. “Ryan Manzella stood tall all night and did a great job. I also give a lot of credit to Maxx Fredrickson on the challenge. That proved to be a big deal.”

Manzella improved to 4-0 on the season, finishing with a season-high 31 saves. He stopped seven shots in the first, 13 in the second, and 11 in the third.

The line with Alex Nordstrom, Ryder Matter, and Lauri Raiman created a scoring chance with 1:55 left in the third and some pushing and shoving ensued. The officials sent two players from each team to the box. Coach Shawhan and his staff then challenged for a major penalty after Nordstrom was crosschecked in the neck. A 5:00 major was called.

Tech wasn’t able to score on the power play during regulation but the man advantage carried over into the overtime. Stiven Sardarian took a shot that was blocked out front. Logan Morrell flipped the loose puck over to Isaac Gordon and he slammed it into the open net for the win. It was Gordon’s fourth goal of the season and 22nd of his career.

Alex Tracy made 24 saves for the home team. Trevor Kukkonen had six shots on goal and Sardarian got five on net.

The teams combined for 13 penalties. Tech was 1-for-3 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.

The Huskies won the faceoff circle 31-21 with Logan Morrell winning 18 draws.

HUSKIES FALL TO MAVERICKS FRIDAY

The Huskies suffered its first road loss of the season with a 5-2 defeat by the Mavericks. The Mavericks jumped out to a 3-0 lead and didn’t let the Huskies get closer than two goals the rest of the way.

“We struggled tonight, even with the simplest things,” Shawhan said. “You make your name performing against good teams, and we didn’t show up tonight. We need to flush it and be more competitive tomorrow night.”

Entering the second period down three, Sardarian got the Huskies on the board 5:56 after intermission with his team-leading 10th of the season. He put in a rebound after a shot by Kasper Vaharautio bounced out into the slot. Matthew Campbell also assisted on Sardarian’s 19th collegiate goal.

MSU retook its three-goal lead 6:41 later when Jakob Stender chipped in a loose puck in the crease. Will Hillman assisted with the initial shot on goal.

Nick Williams made it a two-goal margin with 4:27 left in the third with a long shot through traffic for his first goal of the season and second of his career.

The Mavs quickly responded again — only 40 seconds later — when Kaden Bohlsen scored from Rhett Pitlick and Josh Groll for the final tally.

MSU dominated shots 34-18. Derek Mullahy made the start for the Huskies and made 11 saves through the first period. Manzella played the final 40:00 and stopped 18 shots. Tracy made 16 saves for the home team.

The Mavs opened scoring 7:41 into the game with a long shot through traffic off the stick of Luke Ashton on the power play. Luigi Benincasa and Evan Murr were credited with the assists.

Pitlick made it 2-0 when he had a one-handed tip-in goal from a sharp angle at 11:18 of the first period. Evan Murr and Ralfs Bergmanis assisted on the play.

Adam Eisele scored the third goal of the period with a redirecting tip from Campbell Cichosz with only 12.3 seconds left before the first intermission.

Tech was 0-for-2 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill.

UP NEXT

The month wraps up against Northern Michigan next weekend. The Huskies and Wildcats will play in Houghton on Friday and Marquette on Saturday.