Tech Hockey Wins MacInnes Cup with 3-1 Victory vs. Lake State
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lake Superior State (9-17-4 (6-10-4)) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
|
Michigan Tech (16-7-5 (13-6-3)) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Jamie Phillips made 22 saves and three different Michigan Tech skaters scored goals as the No. 14/15 Huskies rolled past Lake Superior State 3-1 to complete a two-game sweep on Winter Carnival weekend in front of 3,582 at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.
The win gives Tech its 45th Winter Carnival series championship in 67 tries. The Huskies are 75-45-14 all-time in Winter Carnival games.
"I'm really proud of our players," said head coach Mel Pearson, who has led the Huskies to a 7-2-1 on Winter Carnival weekend since coming back to Tech in 2011-12. "We got the points we needed. Max Vallis had a terrific weekend and deserved the MVP. It seems like every week we have someone else stepping up for us and it's very important for us to win a trophy like the MacInnes Cup."
CJ Eick started the scoring with a beautiful shorthanded goal late in the first period. After Chris Leibinger chipped a pass out of the zone, Eick raced past a Lake State defenseman, cut to the net and fired a wrister just under the crossbar for Tech's third shorthanded tally of the season.
Tech wasted little time widening the gap in the second period as Max Vallis and Jake Lucchini connected for a pair of goals in the first six minutes of the frame to blow the game open.
A good shift led to Vallis' third goal of the weekend at 1:53 on a spin-around shot from the left circle. Michael Neville started the play when he won a battle and centered to Reid Sturos. Sturos' stick snapped as he tried to one-time the puck, but it squirted right to Vallis in the circle for a put back into the open net.
Then, at 6:00, Lucchini buried his fourth of the year from nearly the same spot when he slapped home a rebound. Brent Baltus andAlex Gillies were credited with assists on the play.
Michigan Tech (16-7-5 overall; 13-6-3 WCHA) has a week off before hitting the road to play Bemidji State Feb. 19-20.
NOTES: Michigan Tech outshot the Lakers 48-23 ... The Huskies were 0-5 on the power play while Lake State went 0-for-4 ... Vallis was named the Winter Carnival MVP after scoring the game-winner Friday and three goals this weekend ... Eick's shorthanded goal was the fourth of his collegiate career ... Tech's 48 shots on net is its highest total of the 2015-16 season to date.
