Hockey Earns 3-2 Road Win at Alaska

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FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Alex Petan recorded two goals and an assist to lead Michigan Tech to a 3-2 victory at Alaska in WCHA play tonight. The Huskies scored three goals in an eight-minute span early in the second period. Petan figured into all three including the eventual game winner to give Tech its first road win of the season.

"It was a good team win tonight," said head coach Mel Pearson, whose club improved to 5-8-2 overall and 3-3-1 in league play. "Two big things happened: we gave up the first goal and came back to win; and we got our first road win. We did the things we needed to do and got a big two points in the standings."

Pearson shuffled the lineup a bit heading into the game, pairing wings Petan and C.J. Eick with center Mike Neville. The move paid off, as the line created all three goals.

Just as important was the play of goaltender Pheonix Copley. Playing near his hometown of North Pole, Alaska, and receiving a nice ovation from the crowd before the game, Copley posted 30 saves—nine of those in the third period as the hosts were pressing to tie the game.

Alaska (5-6-2, 2-5-0 WCHA) got on the board just 1:17 into action on a goal from Tyler Morley. The hosts had chances to extend the lead with a 12-8 advantage in shots on goal in the period, but Copley made several key saves.

Tech opened the second period with a flurry. Defenseman Shane Hanna recorded his first collegiate goal with a wrister from the point just 58 seconds in. The marker came off a faceoff win by Mike Neville and a primary assist from Petan.

Four minutes later, Eick found Petan alone behind the defense, where he finished past UAF netminder Sean Cahill for a 2-1 lead.

Little more than three minutes after that one, Eick created a turnover in the left corner and fed a pass to Petan in tight once again. His eighth goal of the season came at the 8:09 mark for a 3-1 Tech lead.

The Nanooks were able to climb back within a goal at the 13:11 mark as Garrick Perry tallied the game's fifth even-strength goal.

Neither team would score again despite two minutes of power play for UAF and six for Tech in the final 25 minutes of the game. UAF pressed hard in the third period and had 1:20 with the extra attacker but could not tally to tie the game.

Alaska possessed a 32-24 advantage in shots on goal in the contest. The teams were a combined 0-for-7 on the power play (Tech held UAF 0-for-3).

Michigan Tech, which is 1-1-1 on its current 11-day trip to Alaska, will try to move over .500 on the road trip and in conference play tomorrow when the teams wrap up their two game series. Faceoff is set for 11:07 p.m. ET.