Huskies earn WCHA split with 2-1 win Saturday

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• Game Highlights
• Coach Shawhan Interview

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Michigan Tech hockey team earned a WCHA split Saturday (Nov. 30) with a 2-1 win at Alaska. Eric Gotz and Raymond Brice scored and Matt Jurusik had 16 saves to lift the Huskies to victory in the final road game of 2019.

"We played pretty well in a lot of areas tonight," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "Our power play movement was good all night, and we stayed out of the box with good discipline. We also got back to our defensive structure."

Gotz scored for the second time in the last three games with a power-play tally 10:23 into the first period. Trenton Bliss had a cross-ice feed to Gotz who quickly snapped in his third goal of the season. Seamus Donohue also assisted.

Alaska (9-9, 7-5 WCHA) tied it up 1:24 into the second period on a goal by Steven Jandric. Markus Komuls and Chris Jandric assisted on the Nanooks' only goal of the game.

Both teams had chances to take the lead later in the second. Bliss hit the post and then Matt Jurusik had a big save on a breakaway chance for Alaska.

Brice gave the Huskies the lead back with 5:41 left in the second with his second of the season and second in the last three games. Similar to his goal at Northern Michigan a week ago, he took a shot from the edge of the faceoff circle that redirected off the defenseman out front and in. Brian Halonen assisted on the goal.

Tech had chances to extend the lead in the third period when Donohue hit the post on the power play with just over 8:00 left and then Alec Broetzman was stopped on a short breakaway with 7:00 remaining.

Alaska pulled goaltender Anton Martinsson for the extra attacker with 2:40 left but Jurusik stood tall, making a pair of saves and having a pair of shots go wide as he picked up his seventh win of the season.

Shots were 22-17 in favor of the Huskies. Martinsson had 20 saves for the home team.

The Huskies were 1-for-4 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill after only being called for a pair of penalties.

Tech is now 8-7 overall and 6-6 in the WCHA. The Huskies will play the next four games at home to wrap up 2019, starting next weekend against Alaska Anchorage.