Tech Falls to Minnesota State in WCHA Championship Game
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Michigan Tech (29-9-2) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
|
Minnesota State (29-7-3) | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
ST. PAUL, Minn. — In the only matchup of top-five-ranked teams in college hockey today, Minnesota State defeated Michigan Tech 5-2 in the WCHA Tournament Championship game. The Huskies carried a 2-1 lead eight minutes into the third period before the Mavericks scored four unanswered to claim the Broadmoor Trophy.
Michigan Tech (29-9-2) will now await an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament. Pairings will be announced via a live selection show on ESPNU tomorrow (Mar. 22) at 12 noon ET/11 a.m. CT.
Tech got on the board 6:04 into the game when Blake Pietila pounded home a rebound on the power play. David Johnstone fired a shot from the left dot that rebounded off Stephon Williams to Pietila in the slot. The senior tallied his 14th of the season and fifth on the man advantage. Johnstone and Shane Hanna drew the assists.
MSU answered three minutes later on the rush. Brett Stern carried the puck all the way into the zone and behind Jamie Phillips' goal before finding Chase Grant out front for a quick shot.
The score was 1-all after 20 minutes.
Tech earned its second power play of the contest 2:07 into the second and scored 37 seconds later as Alex Petan's shot from the center blue line found its way through traffic past Williams. Petan's first point since Feb. 14 and his 15th tally of the season was assisted by Johnstone and Hanna. It was Johnstone's fifth assist on the weekend.
The Mavericks (29-7-3) had their second power play of the game later in the frame, but Tech killed it off.
The Black and Gold posted a 12-4 advantage in shots on goal during a dominant middle stanza.
The game became a special teams battle in the third period. Tech killed off back-to-back penalties early in the frame, then gave up the tying goal 8:08 into the period.
Brad McClure then scored the first of a natural hat trick with 8:31 to play on an odd-man rush.
McClure's next two goals were both on the man advantage as Tech was put short-handed three times in the final six minutes.
"Congrats to Minnesota State," said Tech coach Mel Pearson. "There's a reason they're one of the best teams, if not the best team in the country. I thought we had two really good periods. It's tough enough to beat them 5-on-5, let alone 5-on-4."
Tech was called for seven penalties to MSU's three. The Huskies finished 2-for-3 on the man advantage while MSU was 2-for-7.
Final shots on goal totals favored the Mavericks by a slim 28-25 margin.
Johnstone and Tyler Heinonen were both named to the WCHA All-Tournament team. MSU's McClure, Alex Palmquist, Brett Stern and Williams were also named to the team.
Michigan Tech will look to break a 34-year NCAA Tournament draught when the pairings are announced tomorrow. The Huskies are hosting a watch party for alumni and fans at Eagle Street Grille, located across the street from Xcel Energy Center.
GAME NOTES: The game was Tech's 14th against a nationally-ranked opponent this season. It is 7-6-1 in those games … The game featured the two teams with the top winning percentage in NCAA Division I hockey … The Huskies and Mavericks had never met in the postseason prior to tonight.
