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Posted: Feb 05, 2016

Tech Blanks Lake State in Winter Carnival Opener

Tech Blanks Lake State in Winter Carnival Opener Play Video
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HOUGHTON, Mich. – Max Vallis scored twice and Matt Roy added a single goal while senior goaltender Jamie Phillips stopped 31 shots to help No. 14/15 Michigan Tech shutout Lake Superior State 3-0 tonight (Feb. 5) in front of 3,648 at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

The shutout was Phillips' ninth as a Husky and gave him 49 career victories – good for second all-time in the Michigan Tech record books.

"It was a tough game tonight but a lot of that is due to Lake State," said head coach Mel Pearson. "They did a good job of neutralizing our speed but having said that we did a good job of grinding it out and finding a way to get goals. Jamie Phillips was excellent in goal and Max Vallis was great."

After a scoreless opening frame, Vallis connected for a pair of second-period goals to give the Huskies a two-goal cushion through 40 minutes. The Santa Clara, Calif., native buried his first of the night just 1:57 into the second on a turnaround slapper from the slot. Following a Dane Birks play to hold the offensive zone, Reid Sturos batted a loose puck between the circles. Vallis, who was posted up high in the slot, found the puck and sent a spin-around effort into the top corner.

Then, with 17:54 gone in the frame, Vallis scored again – on another snipe – to double Tech's lead. The scoring play started when Sturos chipped a puck past the Lake State defense and into the zone. Vallis skated around a Lakers defender, won a battle for the puck and threaded a wrister from a tight angle off the water bottle. Shane Hanna also earned an assist on the goal.

Roy closed the scoring 6:39 into the third when he unloaded a well-placed shot from just inside the blue line. A good forecheck by Dylan Steman ended with him winning a puck battle and sending a pass up the middle to Roy at the point. Roy settled the puck, waited for a screen and beat Lake State goalie Gordon Defiel low blocker.

Michigan Tech (15-7-5 overall; 12-6-3 WCHA) and Lake Superior State conclude the two-game Winter Carnival series tomorrow (Feb. 6) at 5:07 p.m. Limited tickets still remain and can be purchased at the SDC Ticket Office, online at BuyHuskiesTickets.com or over the phone at 906-487-2073.