Huskies Sweep NMU To Wrap Up Regular Season
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Michigan Tech (26-8-2, 21-5-2 WCHA) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
|
Northern Michigan (14-16-6,11-13-4 WCHA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
MARQUETTE, Mich. – No. 4 Michigan Tech defeated Northern Michigan 3-1 on Saturday (March 7) at the Berry Events Center to pick up the WCHA series sweep of the Wildcats on the final day of the regular season. The Huskies picked up their 26th win to improve to 26-8-2 overall and 21-5-2 in the WCHA.
"It was a tough game to play in tonight with all the emotion and physicality," Tech coach Mel Pearson said. "We found a way to win the game and that's the bottom line.
"Now we just got to get ready for the post season. We had a really good regular season and lost only one of 14 league road games. Now it's a whole new season."
Tech finished second in the WCHA standings one point behind MacNaughton Cup champions Minnesota State who defeated Bemidji State to secure the Cup. The Huskies will host seventh seed Alabama Huntsville in a best-of-three series at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena on March 13-15.
Saturday's game against archrival NMU featured a combined 81 penalty minutes. Tech was whistled for 11 penalties totaling 33 minutes while the Wildcats had 13 for 48 minutes.
The Huskies outshot NMU 40-21 and totaled 91 shots on goal over the two-game series.
Tyler Heinonen scored his third goal of the weekend, and fifth against NMU this season, 8:40 into the game on the power play. Tanner Kero carried the puck behind the net and found Heinonen wide-open out front for the quick shot. Malcolm Gould also assisted on the play for his third helper of the weekend.
Kero added to the lead with his 18th of the year from Brent Baltus and Alex Petan 1:57 into the second period. From behind the net, Baltus slipped a pass between his legs out to Kero who finished the play.
Reid Sturos made it 3-0 at the 9:15 mark of the second period when he jammed in a rebound after a flurry of shots by the Huskies. David Johnstone and Shane Hanna were credited with the assists.
The goal set off a string of penalties that included three five-minute majors. Five penalties were called immediately after that one play. The teams combined for 14 penalties in the third period.
NMU finally broke through with 55 seconds left in the game, as Casey Purpur found the back of the net to break up the shutout.
Jamie Phillips, one of only two goaltenders in the country to start every game for their team this season, had 20 saves to win his nation-leading 25th game of the year.
Michael Doan had 37 saves for the home team, including 16 in the second period after the Huskies kept him busy by outshooting the 'Cats 18-1 in the frame.
Next weekend's WCHA First Round games start at 7:07 p.m. each night at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Other matchups include No. 8 Lakes Superior State at No. 1 Minnesota State, No. 6 Northern Michigan at No. 3 Bowling Green State and No. 5 Ferris State at No. 4 Bemidji State.
Tickets are on sale now for the playoff series. Reserved adult seats are $17 and reserved youth seats are $10. Tickets can be purchased at the Central Ticket Office in the Student Development Complex, online at BuyHuskiesTickets.com or over the phone by calling 906-487-2073.
GAME NOTES: Kero finished the season as the WCHA leader in points (18-25=43) and conference-only points (13-21=34)…The Huskies are 14-0-1 when Kero scores a goal…The last time Tech finished second in the WCHA standings was 1980-81. That was also the last time Tech won 26 games.