Huskies tie No. 6 MSU, Mavs win shootout
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Minnesota State (23-6-2, 18-4-1-1) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|
Michigan Tech (12-13-4, 11-7-3-1) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
- Game Highlights
- Coach Shawhan Interview
- Matt Jurusik Interview
- Brian Halonen Interview
- Photo Gallery
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech and No. 6 Minnesota State began the annual Winter Carnival series with a 1-1 tie Friday (Feb. 8) at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The Mavericks earned the extra WCHA point in the shootout and took a one-goal lead in the total goal series for the MacInnes Cup when Chris Van Os-Shaw scored in the fourth round.
"I'm proud of the effort against a great team," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "There was a commitment to playing for each other. We blocked a lot of shots and the goaltending was outstanding."
Brian Halonen opened the game's scoring with his team-leading ninth of the season to give the Huskies the lead 4:24 into the third period on the power play. Dylan Steman won the faceoff back to Colin Swoyer. He worked the puck over to Keegan Ford for a setup feed on a one-timer.
"That was a great shot," added Shawhan. "That unit keeps it simple and gets shots on net. That was obviously a huge goal."
MSU (23-6-2, 18-4-1-1 WCHA) called a timeout and added an extra attacker with 2:23 remaining in the third. Jake Jaremko found the back of the net to tie the game with 54.1 seconds left. Dallas Gerads and Parker Tuomie assisted on the play.
Tech (12-13-4, 11-7-3-1) goalie Matt Jurusik was spectacular all night long, stopping a Tech career-high 36 shots. His best and most crucial save came in the final moments of overtime when he gloved down a sure goal by Jaremko with 49 seconds left.
"It was just a bouncing puck," said Jurusik. "I knew I need to get a piece, and I threw everything I had at it. It gave us a chance to get a point tonight."
"Matt was absolutely phenomenal," Shawhan said. "We left him hanging at times, but he kept us in the game got us a big point. Every point is so crucial at this time of the year."
TJ Polglaze had the best scoring chance for the Huskies in the first overtime, and Jake Jackson almost gave Tech the extra point in the 3-on-3.
Jake Lucchini, Tommy Parrottino, Jake Jackson, and Colin Swoyer were the Huskies with opportunities in the shootout.
MSU outshot Tech 37-22. Dryden McKay had 21 saves for the visitors.
Jurusik made seven saves in the first period, 16 in the second, nine in the third, and four in overtime. He hadn't given up a goal in 186 minutes and 18 seconds before MSU tied it up late in the third.
The two teams will wrap up the series Saturday (Feb. 9) when they meet for the fourth time this season. The puck drops at 5:07 p.m.
The MacInnes family will be on the ice after the game to present the MacInnes Cup to the team with the most goals on the weekend, and the Winter Carnival Queen will present the weekend MVP.
