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Posted: Dec 09, 2017

Huskies earn split with 5-1 win over Ferris State

Huskies earn split with 5-1 win over Ferris State Play Video
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HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech earned a WCHA split with Ferris State after a 5-1 win Saturday at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Freshman goaltender Robbie Beydoun earned his first collegiate win with 31 saves, while Alex Smith had a goal and an assist.

"Robbie did a great job for us in net tonight," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "He gave us a chance when we weren't firing on all cylinders at the start. He stayed aggressive and strong throughout, and I'm extremely proud and happy for him."

After surrendering the lead 15:45 into the game on a shorthanded goal by Jasen Fernsler, the Black and Gold potted five straight goals to improve to 8-7-4 overall and 6-6-4-1 in the WCHA.

Alex Gillies tied it up before the end of the first period, scoring his third of the season. He stole the puck in the neutral zone and sniped it over the goaltender with 1:46 left on the clock.

Jake Lucchini gave the home team the lead 11:09 into the second with Gavin Gould and Keegan Ford assisting. Gould carried the puck into the zone and had a 1-on-1 rush to the net. The puck got deflected off of his stick and trickled out to Lucchini who blasted in his fourth of the season.

Smith scored 3:10 later on the power play to make it a two-goal game. Mark Auk fed it across the zone to Mitch Reinke who found Smith down in front of the net. For Smith, it was his third of the season and first of two points on the night. He is currently on a five-game point streak with three goals and five assists over the span.

Dylan Steman added to the lead before the end of the second, putting in his first of the season. The assist went to Seamus Donohue as he fed Steman out front from the corner for a backhanded whack and the 17th goal of his career.

"Dylan's a gifted hockey player, and it was only a matter of time for him to score," added Shawhan. "He hasn't played a tremendous amount over the last two seasons with some injuries. He just makes players around him better, and his value to this team is immeasurable. I'm happy that one is behind him and that now he can start filling it up."

Jake Jackson scored for the third game in a row to extend his point streak to six games 3:14 into the third. Smith fed Jackson into the zone and he had to settle a bouncing puck on a breakaway before putting in his team-leading eighth goal of the season. Brent Baltus added the secondary assist to tally a point in his fourth straight game.

"I think we know where each other is going to be at all times," Smith said about his linemates Jake Jackson and Brent Baltus. "We've been creating a lot of scoring chances lately and the pucks have been going in."

Beydoun had 11 saves in the first period, 14 in the second, and six in the third. He had key saves late in each of the first two periods.

"It obviously feels really good," Beydoun said. "It's been a little bit of a tough year not getting into too many games yet, but I knew once I got comfortably into a game it would be fine."

Justin Kapelmaster had 21 saves in the first two periods for the Bulldogs, and Darren Smith had seven in the third.

Tech was 6-for-6 on the penalty kill and 1-for-4 on the man advantage. The Huskies have killed off 32 of the last 33 penalties, dating back to November 11.

The two teams will meet in Big Rapids on January 26-27 to wrap-up the season series.

The Huskies remain at home next weekend (Dec. 15-16), hosting Lake Superior State. In the first meeting in the Soo, the Black and Gold won 4-3 the first night and the two teams tied 2-2 the next with the Huskies earning the extra WCHA point after a Lucchini goal in the shootout.