Michigan Tech center Tom Leppa attempts a deke during a game against Ferris State Saturday at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team had a successful home weekend to open CCHA play last weekend with a sweep of the Ferris State Bulldogs. The Huskies scored nine straight goals over the course of the weekend to improve to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in CCHA play.

First-year head coach Bill Muckalt liked a lot of what he saw from the Huskies, but still felt like there was an area of the game that needs improvement.

“The result’s good. Anytime you can sweep, it’s hard to sweep in college hockey,” he said. “Give Ferris State credit. Brett Riley’s a really good coach. They had his team ready to play. We created some separation both nights. I really like a lot about our game, and then there’s some things we want to clean up.

“I feel like we took too many penalties and they were penalties. I think we’re a disciplined hockey club. So, that’s something that it takes away from our rhythm, and you have to expend so much energy when you kill. Those are things that we have to clean up.”

With 13 freshmen and five transfers, it makes sense that the Huskies still have a ways to go to get to where they want to be.

“We do have a really young team,” Muckalt said. “We have 13 freshmen. We have 18 new players, new coaching staff. It’s going to take time. I felt at times this year, we’ve shown our youth in moments. That’s OK. This game is about learning, growing, and coming together. It really shows your character when you have adversity, how you deal with it, how you handle it. I like a lot about it.

“I thought our penalty kill has been fabulous. On Saturday, we’re down 5-on-3, and we get three huge shot blocks. Kalem Parker scored a shorthanded goal, which was fantastic to see, but those are things you want to clean up as we move forward. We’re going to grow, it’s going to take time. It’s a long year, and it’s not just going to happen overnight.”

The Huskies trailed 1-0 Friday night before scoring five straight goals to earn the win. Saturday, they opened the game with four straight goals before surrendering two to the Bulldogs.

“I was really proud of our team in the third period,” said Muckalt. “We adjusted some systems things in the third period, and I thought that Ferris State had a hard time playing through us. We made those adjustments, but, I think, it was even our guys, we just locked it down and that’s a sign of a good team. When you can hang on, and not let a team back in, because there was a little momentum shift with the penalties, and the goals, and you’re going to have that swing at times and in games. I thought we did a really good job in front of Bart (Owen Bartoszkiewicz) and, obviously, he was fantastic this weekend.”

Muckalt loves a lot of what his former goaltender from Lindenwood is bringing in Houghton. He does have one issue, but it is one that makes sense given that Bartoszkiewicz is playing behind mostly new teammates.

“I mean, it’s pretty self explanatory. Watch a game, he looks extremely calm, confident. He’s reading the plays, anticipating the plays,” said Muckalt. “Made a couple unbelievable pokechecks where we’ve had some defensive breakdowns. (He’s) just steady and not surprised by any of that.

“Could pick it apart a little bit. I will challenge him a little bit on the goalie touch breakouts to be a little bit cleaner. But, that’s part of that’s a shared responsibility and communication with our defensemen as well, to make the right calls and help, because it’s a tough play for a goalie. You go stop the puck, and a lot of times you have your back turned to the forecheck. So, what’s the call? Is it up the strong side? Is it over to the weak side? You have to rely on that. So, that’s a shared responsibility. But, that’s an area where that’s about the only beef I have with Bart, and it’s not even a beef. I love what he brings. He’s going to give us a chance to win every night.”

Sardarian’s offense

Up front, the Huskies are getting a ton of offense from senior forward Stiven Sardarian. With four assists over the weekend, he now leads the Huskies with nine assists in six games.

“Stiven’s got that patience,” Muckalt said. “You see a guy like Nikita Kucherov in the National Hockey League, he can make plays on both sides of a stick. He’s such a good player. He can make the plays on his back hand as well as anybody can make it on their forehead. He’s got that extra patience and poise. He’s got a lot of deception in his game.

“I think that line is super effective right now. They’re committed to the forecheck and creating a turnover. And then when they create a turnover, ‘Stiv’ is going to find (Noah) Reinhart or he’s going to find ‘Koski’ (Max Koskipirtti), because of his hockey IQ, he knows where to make that play and manipulate defenders and make plays. So, they’re super effective and they bought into that.”

Scouting the Golden Knights

The Clarkson Golden Knights come into this weekend 2-4 overall, but those two wins have come against Penn State and North Dakota.

They are led offensively by senior forward Ryan Bottrill, who has seven assists in six games. Senior forward Erik Bargholtz leads the team in goals (3) and has four points.

In goal, junior Shane Soderwall is 2-3 in five starts, with a 2.84 goals against average and a .907 save percentage.

Scouting the Saints

The St. Lawrence Saints are 1-5 overall, after dropping a pair of games to Notre Dame on Oct. 16 and 17.

They are led offensively by sophomore forward Cayden Casey, who has one goal and four points in six games. They also have four players with two goals each.

In goal, junior Mason Kucenski has made four starts, going 1-3 with a 3.57 goals against average and a .906 save percentage.

Game times

The Huskies and Golden Knights will faceoff Friday at 7 p.m. at Cheel Arena in Potsdam, New York. Saturday, the Huskies and Saints are set for a 7 p.m. start at Appleton Arena in Canton, New York.