Michigan Tech defenseman Tyler Miller battles for position with a forward from Alaska during a game Saturday at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — The Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team came away from Fairbanks, Alaska, with a split after defeating the Alaska Nanooks on Friday, 3-1, and falling in Saturday’s matchup, 5-1.

With the split, the Huskies are now 2-2 on the season.

Huskies win 3-1 at Alaska on Friday

The Huskies won 3-1 at Alaska on Friday to begin a non-conference series up in Fairbanks. They got goals from senior defenseman Jack Anderson, freshman forward Noah Reinhart, and alternate captain Max Koskipirtti, along with 25 saves from junior goaltender Owen Bartoszkiewicz.

“Give Fairbanks credit. We knew they were going to be physical, play hard, and give us a great game,” Huskies coach Bill Muckalt said. “We had a good start and then lost some races and battles, but then started to take it over in the second half of the game.”

Anderson opened the scoring 16:20 into the first period when he put in his own rebound for his first Michigan Tech goal. Anderson jumped up on the play, made a move to the slot for a shot, and then found his rebound and put it over the goaltender’s glove. Freshman forwards Teydon Trembecky and Ryan Abraham assisted. Trembecky has an assist in all three games this season.

Reinhart scored for the second straight game 80 seconds into the third period, tapping in a setup feed from senior forward Stiven Sardarian at the side of the net. Koskipirtti also assisted on the goal that gave the Huskies a 2-0 advantage.

With an offensive zone faceoff, Alaska pulled its goaltender with 5:55 remaining and found the back of the net 24 seconds later when Braden Birnie scored from Peyton Platter and Michael Citara.

Michigan Tech got its two-goal lead back with 1:41 left on the third-period clock when Koskipirtti stole the puck in his defensive zone and scored on a long shot from inside his own blueline into the empty net. It was Koskipirtti’s 13th career goal.

Bartoszkiewicz made 11 saves in the first period, nine in the second, and five in the third for his 13th NCAA win. His teammates blocked 10 shots in front of him.

“I really liked Owen tonight,” added Muckalt. “You’re going to win a lot of hockey games with goaltending like that.”

Lassi Lehti made 33 saves for the Nanooks.

Michigan Tech was 2-for-2 on the penalty kill and 0-for-1 on the power play.

Huskies split in Alaska after Saturday loss

The Huskies team fell 5-1 at Alaska on Saturday as the Nanooks earned the non-conference series split. Sophomore defenseman Tyler Miller scored the lone goal for the Huskies.

“We didn’t start on time and dug ourselves a hole,” Muckalt said. “We were good in the second half of the first period but couldn’t capitalize on our chances.

“You’re not going to win games giving up five goals in a game, and kudos to their goaltender. We got what we deserved, and you have to give Fairbanks credit. It’s hard to get a sweep in college hockey.”

Alaska (2-4 overall) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second period. Citara scored at the side of the net from Dean Spak and Misha Danylov only 2:04 into the game.

The Nanooks added to the lead 9:18 into the second period, when Platter scored in front of the crease after Alexander Malinowski worked the puck below the net and sent out a centering feed.

Miller got the Huskies on the board with eight seconds left in the second period, scoring his second goal of the season. He took a long shot through traffic in the high slot with Sardarian assisting in his 100th collegiate game.

Alaska got its two-goal lead back 5:03 into the third when Beau Courtney put in a rebound in the slot. Dean Spark and Lucas Sorace assisted on the play.

Malinowski scored on a penalty shot after Michigan Tech was called for a player covering the puck in the crease 9:51 into the third.

Davis Borozinskis scored the final goal on the power play with 38 seconds left in the game. Carson Reed and Adam Cardona were credited with the assists.

Alaska led in shots 35-28. Senior goaltender Max Vayrynen had 30 saves for the Huskies, and his countryman, Lehti, stopped 27 shots on the other end of the ice for Alaska.

The Huskies were 0-for-2 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.

Up next

Michigan Tech hosts Ferris State next weekend for the home and CCHA-opener. The Huskies and Bulldogs will meet at 7:07 p.m. Friday and 6:07 p.m. Saturday at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.