Wildcats, Huskies Play To Tie; NMU Wins Shootout
Click the AUDIO button to hear the radio highlights from RRN's Garret Searight. Story from Michigan Tech is posted at the bottom of this page.
STORY COURTESY OF NMU SPORTS INFORMATION
HOUGHTON, Mich. - It took until the bottom of the third, but the Wildcats earned two of a possible three points by way of a shootout in Houghton. The game goes down as a 3-3 tie, but the 'Cats gain the crucial extra CCHA point.
Michael Colella played a big part down the stretch for the green and gold, scoring in the dying minutes of the third period to force overtime before he sealed the deal in the bottom of the third round of the shootout to earn the 'Cats the extra point. Matvei Kabanov, for the second weekend in a row, scored in the shootout; this time beating Pietila with a slick move to open up the goalie and slide the puck five-hole.
Connor Eddy opened the scoring in the first, followed by Kristof Papp in the second before Colella in the third. Kevin Marx Noren recorded another multi-point night with two assists, and Beni Halasz made crucial saves when he needed to, stopping 35 saves for a .921 SV%.
The Huskies outshot the 'Cats 41-37, and both teams were clinical on the man advantage; the Wildcats scored on their only attempt (1/1), and the Huskies scored on both of their opportunities (2/2).
The 'Cats now move to 9-13-4 overall and 7-9-2 in CCHA play with 25 points. The Huskies move to 11-12-6 overall and 8-8-2 in CCHA play with 27 points.
- Michael Colella (7-3--10) was the hero for the 'Cats, tying the game at three and then scoring the game-winner in the shootout
- Connor Eddy scored his fifth goal of the season to open the scoring, his first goal in nine games (5-6--11)
- Kristof Papp evened the game at two-a-piece with his fifth goal of the year and first in 15 games. Papp recorded two points on the weekend (1-1--2)
- Beni Halasz stopped 35 shots faced, including four in the overtime frame and two in the shootout
- Matvei Kabanov scored in the shootout - his second consecutive weekend with a shootout goal
- Kevin Marx Noren registered two assists, giving him four points on the weekend (0-4--4)
- Josh Zinger picked up the primary assist on the Eddy goal, giving him two assists on the weekend (3-15--18)
- Michael Mesic now has points in consecutive games, recording an assist tonight (4-3--7)
- Andre Ghantous recorded his team-leading 17th assist (7-17--24)
- Viking Gustafsson Nyberg notched his first assist of the season (2-1--3)
The Huskies struck in quick succession, with goals two and a half minutes apart to gather a 2-1 lead going into the middle frame.
The 'Cats recorded eight shots and eight faceoff wins while recording four blocks in the frame.
The 'Cats tied the game on their first power play opportunity of the evening, as Papp gained the zone and dished a backhand pass to Marx Noren on the right half-wall. Papp, streaking to the net, gathered a pass from Marx Noren and redirected it past Pietila to tie the game at two.
The Huskies would regain the lead on their only power play opportunity of the period, as Mosley let go a seeing-eye shot from the right circle that beat Halasz through the five-hole.
Shots were relatively even at 11-12 in favor of Tech, both teams scored on their respective power play opportunity, and the 'Cats won 10 faceoffs to seven.
It didn't come until late, but Colella found a loose puck in the crease with five minutes left in period 3 and poked the puck past Pietila, tying the game in the dying minutes of regulation.
Five minutes of three-on-three wasn't enough, and the teams skated to a shootout to determine who gained the final point. Tech opened the scoring in the first round, but Kabanov scored in the second round (once again) and Halasz made two more saves en route to Colella burying his chance in the bottom of the third to defeat the Huskies on their home ice.
BELOW STORY COURTESY OF MICHIGAN TECH ATHLETICS
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan skated to a 3-3 tie on Saturday (Feb. 3) at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The Wildcats earned the extra CCHA point with a 2-1 win in the shootout.
Tech is now 11-12-6 overall and 8-8-2 in the CCHA after its 11th overtime game of the season.
The Huskies are 3-2-6 in the extra period and 2-4 in shootouts.
"The guys played hard and gave everything they had," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "We got dominated in the third period and that was the difference.
"I like our group. They're giving everything they have. We just need to find that mental edge."
Arvid Caderoth tied the game for the Huskies 9:24 into the first period when he jammed in a loose puck in the crease. Ryland Mosley and Kash Rasmussen got sticks on it before Caderoth scored his fifth of the season.
The Huskies then took the lead when Isaac Gordon came in to the left of the goaltender and snapped a shot past the blocker for his team-leading 14th of the season. Max Koskipirtti assisted on the goal and Gordon extended his point streak to six games.
NMU (9-13-4, 7-9-2 CCHA) tied it 7:34 into the second period when Kristof Papp tipped in a centering pass from Kevin Marx Noren on the power play.
Tech retook the lead at 14:59 of the second when Ryland Mosley scored on the power play with a shot through traffic. Chase Pietila and Max Koskipirtti assisted on Mosley's 13th goal of the season and his sixth on the man advantage.
The Wildcats tied it with 4:52 left in the third when Michael Colella tapped in a rebound. The Huskies were stuck on a long shift and Kevin Marx Noren took a long shot off the post.
Tech led in shots 4-3 in overtime. The best chance was by Matthew Campbell on a rush to the net that hit the post.
Isaac Gordon scored in the first round of the shootout before Matvei Kabanov and Michael Colella found the back of the net for the visitors.
NMU opened scoring 6:16 into the game when Connor Eddy scored on a rebound at the doorstep. Josh Zinger and Michael Mesic assisted.
Tech led in shots 38-34 on the night. Ryland Mosley pounded eight shots on goal. Blake Pietila made 31 saves for the Huskies, and Beni Halasz had 35 for the Wildcats.
Michigan Tech remains at home next weekend for the annual Winter Carnival series. The Huskies will host Minnesota State in a total goal series for the MacInnes Trophy. The Blue Line Club has a luncheon scheduled for Friday, and the CCHA series will be played at 7:07 p.m. Friday and 5:07 p.m. Saturday.
