Michigan Tech Completes Sweep With 4-0 Victory

This story was written by NMU Sports Information

MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University hockey team dropped the second game of the weekend series to the Michigan Tech Huskies, 4-0, Saturday night at the Berry Events Center.

 

Two goals in the first, a short-handed goal at the end of the second, and an empty-netter in the third, helped the Huskies walk away with the weekend sweep.

 

The 'Cats were 100% while short-handed, killing all five of the Husky power play opportunities. The Huskies were perfect themselves, going 4/4 on the PK and scoring a short-handed goal.

 

Ten Huskies recorded points, including goals from Morrell (GWG), Matter, Koskipirtti (SHG), and Jansson (ENG). Manzella stopped all 22 shots, his third shutout in his past four starts.

 

The 'Cats now look ahead to next weekend, when they host the Bowling Green Falcons.
 

After a hard-working shift from Diamond, he drew a Husky penalty and the 'Cats had the game's first man advantage. The 'Cats found sustained pressure from both power play units but were unable to come away with the game's first goal. 

 

The next man-advantage opportunity went to the Huskies just before the halfway mark of the first period. A handful of key saves from Ouellette and a couple of blocks, and the 'Cats penalty kill units came through.

 

The Huskies opened the scoring, as Works drove to the corner and fired a pass to Morrell on the back door, who got just enough on the shot to squeak one Ouellette.

 

The Huskies were granted a power play opportunity just 58 seconds into the second period. The Cats penalty kill was up to the task, not allowing the Huskies any opportunities while short-handed. Ouellette made two big saves right after the penalty expired to keep the Cats within one. 

 

Tech got another man advantage about two minutes after the first Wildcat penalty, and the 'Cats PK was quickly put back to the test. Ouellette made a glove save as the penalty expired, and NMU's special teams came through again.

 

On the ensuing faceoff, a shot from the point was saved by Ouellette but Matter was left unmarked on the stick side, and the Husky forward was able to elevate the puck from in tight to beat Ouellette over the glove. 

 

NMU had its chance on the man advantage next and set up a one-timer play perfectly for Slipec. The pass was in the wheelhouse and get got all of it, but his stick snapped and the chance went awry. 

 

After a hard-working play to drive the net, the 'Cats forced Tech to take another penalty, and Northern was right back to the man advantage with under two minutes to play in the second period. The Huskies forced a turnover on the Wildcats zone entry attempt, Koskipirtti walked in on a two-on-one and chose to shoot, beating Ouellette over the glove to give the Huskies a three-goal lead going into the third. 

 

Altrichter drew a Husky penalty, and the 'Cats had an opportunity in the first five minutes of the third period. A one-timer from the slot and a backhand just wide of the post, and the Huskies escaped unscathed.

 

In an effort to get back into the game, the Wildcats pulled its netminder with just over eight minutes left to play. Jansson corralled a turnover at center ice, spun, and fired into the empty net.