Michigan Tech center Max Koskipirtti battles to keep the puck away from a Bemidji State defender during a game Friday at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team is in the midst of a three-week gauntlet as they try to figure out exactly what they are made of this season. The Huskies essentially split last weekend with the CCHA-leading Bemidji State Beavers, playing to a 2-2 tie on Friday where the Beavers took the extra point in a shootout, and the Huskies won Saturday, 2-1 in overtime.

“It was an intense weekend,” said Huskies coach Bill Muckalt. “I thought both teams played well. You could tell by the intensity. There wasn’t a lot of room out there. It was hard to gain lines, it was hard to gain momentum for both teams. Both nights went into a one-shot hockey game, once in a shootout, once in overtime. So, I was impressed with our patience and sticking to it. I thought we played really well defensively in stretches.

“It’s kind of what you expect when you’re playing a really good team. Give Bemidji credit. They’re well coached. They’re a good hockey team.”

With the split, the Huskies are now 8-3-1 overall and 5-0-1 in CCHA play, good for 17 points.

No matter who the Huskies have battled this season, senior forward Stiven Sardarian has been at the center of the offense for Michigan Tech. He leads the team in scoring with four goals and 17 points in 12 games. His goal Saturday turned the game around.

“Big goal, big moment, got us on the board,” said Muckalt. “Loved the way he took the puck to the net. Wasn’t going to be denied, just really a strong drive to the far post, made a great play, great individual effort, got some separation, turned their defenseman, protected the puck.

“You need your best players to step up in big moments, and that was a big lift for our team.”

Riding shotgun with Sardarian has been alternate captain Max Koskipirtti. The junior is third on the Huskies in scoring with six goals and 10 points in 12 games.

His game-winning goal Saturday was just another big moment for him.

“I feel like Max is a glue guy for us,” Muckalt said. “We have a lot of confidence in him. He’s on a penalty kill, obviously, playing center, faceoffs, responsible, plays offensive roles. He’s been a real valuable part of our team.

“I think on that goal, particularly, I want to give credit to Carson Latimer. Great individual effort, skating speed. Creates duplicate coverage, maybe even triple coverage, then makes a great play, and, obviously, a great shot by Max.”

Latimer, who is still finding his way in the NCAA after transferring from the University of British Columbia, did not see much ice time early in the season, but now has played in nine games and has seven points in that stretch.

“I think the game slowed down for him, but he’s been really resilient,” said Muckalt. “He’s been focused in the process of the commitment of working hard and grinding. (I) just love his attitude, his approach. He’s just working so hard. He brings so much, and just the wherewithal to stick with things when they aren’t going his way, dig a little deeper. He’s been fantastic for us.

“He’s adding so much energy, enthusiasm to our group. He’s playing the right way. He’s doing what we’re asking him to do, and he’s getting rewarded for it. So, good for him.”

In goal, junior goaltender Owen Bartoszkiewicz continues to give the Huskies a chance to win every night.

“(He) brings it every day,” Muckalt said. “Come watch us practice. He competes. He battles. He’s a competitor. The save he made on the turnover late Saturday night was a gamechanger save. He saved their bacon on that one, for sure.

“Yeah, I love him. I’ll go to battle with him. We have confidence in him. We know he’s going to make big saves, and give us a chance to win every night. That’s all you can ask for.”

Scouting the Mavericks

The No. 14 Minnesota State Mavericks are 6-2-4 overall and 3-1-2 in CCHA play after taking five of six points from Lake Superior State last weekend on the road. The Mavericks opened the season with a split against Nebraska-Omaha and lost two shootouts to Wisconsin, but have been hot since then.

They are led by senior Tristan Lemyre, who has six goals and 12 points in 12 games. Junior forward Luigi Benincasa has also been good, scoring five goals and 12 points in 12 games.

Junior defenseman Evan Murr continues to drive offense from the back end with five goals and 11 points in 12 games.

In goal, senior Alex Tracy remains one of the top netminders in the country. He is 6-2-4 in 12 starts with a 2.03 goals against average and a .925 save percentage.

“I think the biggest thing, it sounds a little bit redundant or repetitive, but traffic is important and I’m not talking about running the tender over, or doing anything like that,” Muckalt said. “If we create traffic, you have a chance for tips, rebounds, screens make it difficult on his line of sight, his vision, to pick up shots from the point, and different second chance opportunities. I think that’s not a specific one goaltender thing, but that’s a good recipe when you’re looking to generate.

“He’s obviously a very good goaltender. He’s had a tremendous track record to success. He’s the backbone of their team, much like how ‘Bart’ is for us. So yeah, that’s a challenge, right? We have to find ways to generate, score, and, at the same time, we have to play well defensively.”

Game times

The Huskies and Mavericks are set to start at 8:07 p.m. Friday night at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato, Minnesota. Saturday, opening faceoff is set for 7:07 p.m.