Tech Scores 10, Shuts Out UAA For WCHA Sweep

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• HIGHLIGHTS

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – No. 5 Michigan Tech extended the nation's longest winning streak to eight games with a 10-0 shutout of Alaska Anchorage on Saturday (Feb. 14). The Huskies picked up their ninth WCHA series sweep of the season and improved to 24-7-1 overall and 19-4-1 in league play.

The 24 wins lead the country as the Huskies defeated the Seawolves for the fourth time this season, outscoring them 20-2 in the process.

Alex Petan became the 63rd player in Tech history to reach the 100-point mark for his career with a goal and two assists.

"We were ready to play and got off to a really good start again tonight," Tech coach Mel Pearson said. "That's what I really liked about the weekend was our starts to the games."

Jamie Phillips improved to 23-6-1 between the pipes, recording his fourth shutout of the season and second against UAA. He leads the country in wins and stopped 34 shots in the game.

"Jamie had to play well," added Pearson. "We weren't very good in the second period. They came back with some intensity, and we got out of it because of Jamie."

The Huskies buried five goals in the first and third periods. Tanner Kero scored the first of his two goals 1:42 after puck drop on a feed from Brent Baltus. Petan added the first of his three points with the secondary assist.

Malcolm Gould scored 2:05 later to make it 2-0. He carried the puck into the zone one-on-one with his defender, moved the puck to his backhand, and buried his 13th of the season. Walker Hyland and Mark Auk assisted.

Gould's second of the game was scored less than 6:00 later to make it 3-0. He put in a rebound after a shot by Joel L'Esperance. Blake Pietila started the play with a shot that was rebounded to L'Esperance.

Baltus made it 4-0 with an unassisted breakaway goal 14 seconds later. He stole the puck at center ice and shelved one over UAA goaltender Olivier Mantha's blocker. Baltus now has six goals on the year.

Auk scored his second of the season to wrap up scoring in the first period. His shot to the far post bounced in with assists going to David Johnstone and Dylan Steman.

After a scoreless second period where Phillips had to make 14 saves, the Huskies piled it on in the third. Kero's 17th goal of the year came 5:55 into the third from Petan and Shane Hanna.

Steman scored his eighth of the year from L'Esperance and Reid Sturos at 9:29.

Petan recorded his 100th career point with a goal at 11:59. Kero and Auk each picked up their third point of the game with the assists. Petan's 100 points have come on 40 goals and 60 assists in 108 career games. He joins teammates Kero and Pietila in the Century Club.

Chris Leibinger had Tech's ninth goal when he fired one into the back of the net at the 14:04 mark. Baltus added the assist on Leibinger's second of the season.

The final goal came off the stick of Patrick Anderson for his first career goal. L'Esperance added his third assist of the game. Leibinger was credited with the secondary helper.

Tech outshot UAA 41-35 on the night. Mantha had six saves before being pulled after Tech's fourth goal. Michael Matyas stopped 25 shots in the final 50:09.

"It's a tough trip up here," Pearson said. "They've been .500 at home and for us to come up here and win a couple games in convincing fashion is good.

"Now we get a week off and get rested for the big series."

The Huskies have next weekend off before traveling to Minnesota State on February 27-28 in a meeting of the top two ranked teams in the WCHA. The Mavericks hold a one-point lead over the Huskies in the standings with four games left for each team.

GAME NOTES: Tech last won 24 games during the 1980-81 season…Tech is 11-1-1 on the road and 10-0-1 on the road in WCHA games…The last time Tech swept UAA in Alaska was February 2004.