Michigan Tech forward Isaac Gordon skates in on the forecheck during a game against Northern Michigan Friday at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

The Michigan Tech Huskies got three goals from senior forward Stiven Sardarian as they swept their rivals from 100 miles away, the Northern Michigan Wildcats in a home-and-home series this past weekend.

With the wins, the Huskies improved to 7-3 overall and 4-0 in CCHA play.

Huskies score first, last in Friday win

HOUGHTON — Sardarian broke the ice just 22 seconds into Friday night’s hockey game between the Huskies and the Wildcats at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

By the time the game ended, the Huskies won the game, 4-1, and Sardarian had racked up two goals and three points.

“It feels really good,” said Sardarian of scoring his first two goals of the season. “Especially, like I didn’t score (in the) last eight games. It feels really good. So, I’m happy to score and help my team to win.”

The Huskies wanted to get off to a quick start in the game, and Sardarian’s goal before the game was 30 seconds old set the tone.

“Well, the house is half painted, right? It feels good to get a win,” said Huskies coach Bill Muckalt. “Credit to Northern, I thought they played hard.”

Reinhart chipped the puck into the offensive zone off the opening faceoff. Alternate captain Koskipirtti got to the puck and fed a quick backhand pass out into the slot where Sardarian caught it, faked a backhand and then moved to his right before scoring on a backhand.

Muckalt loved the Huskies’ start, especially the play of Sardarian, Koskipirtti, and freshman forward Noah Reinhart.

“That line got us off to a start, got us into a lead, created some separation,” said Muckalt. “So, that part was obviously good.”

Sardarian later assisted on freshman defenseman Reid Andresen’s first career tally at 10:48 of the middle frame. Just after the power play ended, Sardarian, at the middle of the blue line in the offensive zone, moved the puck down to freshman forward Teydon Trembecky, who passed the puck across the slot to Andresen for a one-timer that found the net.

“I think the power play just expired, and, obviously, it was a great play by Trembecky to slide it over to me,” said Andresen, “and I just picked it up in my feet, and, luckily enough, found the back of the net.”

Andresen became the 10th Huskies’ player this season to score his first career goal already this season.

The second Huskies’ goal came off the stick of freshman forward Brayden Boehm as the result of another strong Huskies’ forecheck. Sophomore winger Carson Latimer interrupted a Wildcats defenseman with the puck. Latimer then jumped on the puck and backhanded a pass to Boehm, who roofed a quick wrister at 17:40 of the first period.

“Second goal, I think Carson Latimer, ‘Boehmer’ (Boehm), it’s something that we’ve been working on in practice, to be honest,” Muckalt said. “It’s going to go on the gold clip, and we won a couple battles, got it in behind them. Latimer made a good play. Now that was just a tremendous release by Boehmer, up top with the ‘D’ (defenseman) as a screen. A tough one for the goalie to probably get a hold of.”

The Wildcats got one back shorthanded in the third period when Jakub Altrichter struck at 12:01.

Northern Michigan pulled goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton with 4:20 remaining and a power play, but it was Huskies netminder Owen Bartoszkiewicz who had the best scoring chance just seconds after the advantage ended. He tossed the puck down the rink and just missed the right post.

A minute later, Sardarian’s second goal into the empty net sealed the win with 1:00 left.

Bartoszkiewicz made 26 saves to earn the win. William Gramme and Auyeung-Ashton combined for 27 saves in the loss.

Huskies sweep NMU after 4-2 win Saturday

MARQUETTE — The Huskies earned a CCHA sweep of the Wildcats after a 4-2 victory on Saturday at the Berry Events Center. It was the Huskies’ seventh straight win over their rivals.

“Any time you can sweep, it’s big,” Muckalt said. “It’s a tough place to play down here, and they found a goal right off the bat. I’m proud of the group for the way we responded.”

Similar to Friday night, the home team scored early in the game to get the crowd engaged. Altrichter found the back of the net 91 seconds after faceoff, capitalizing on a turnover behind the net. Medrick Bolduc was credited with an assist.

The Huskies tied it up midway through the first when junior forward Lauri Raiman, playing in his first game of the season, chipped in a centering feed by Latimer for his fourth career goal. Sophomore forward Elias Jansson added the second assist.

Tech scored twice in the second period. Latimer made an unbelievable individual effort, beating his defender and scoring his second goal of the season for a 2-1 lead 4:54 after intermission. Sophomore forward Tom Leppa and alternate captain Joe Prouty assisted.

Trembecky added to the lead with his team-leading sixth of the season at 16:51 of the first. Freshman forward Michael Cicek found an open Trembecky for the one-timer from the top of the slot. Freshman forward Reid Daavettila picked up his first NCAA point with the second assist.

Northern wouldn’t go away in the third, outshooting the Huskies 13-12. Joe Schiller scored four seconds into a power play with 5:13 remaining to make it a one-goal game. Mathew Ward and Tobias Pitka assisted.

The Wildcats pulled the goaltender for the extra attacker, and Sardarian scored into the empty net for the second night in a row to seal the win. It was Sardarian’s third goal of the weekend with assists going to sophomore defenseman Tyler Miller and Leppa.

“Lauri has been so good in practice, and he came in and gave us a great effort,” added Muckalt. “I’m happy for him and glad he came through for the team. It was a great individual effort by Latimer. We had a good change by Leppa’s group that led to Trembecky’s goal, and it was good for Stiv to find the empty net.

“We have a gauntlet coming up over the next three weeks, so we need to keep working in practice and be ready for it.”

There were nine penalties called in the game. The Huskies were 0-for-3 on the power play and 1-for-2 on the penalty kill.

Bartoszkiewicz made 23 saves for his seventh win of the season and the 18th of his career. Auyeung-Ashton made 27 saves for the home team on the other side of the ice.

Up next

Michigan Tech hosts Bemidji State next weekend at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.