Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Posted: Mar 07, 2020

Pietila scores in triple overtime to sweep Northern Michigan

Pietila scores in triple overtime to sweep Northern Michigan Play Video
Photos Video Video Video Video Video Box Score

MARQUETTE, Mich. – Logan Pietila scored 4:41 into the third overtime to end Michigan Tech's second-longest game in program history and sweep Northern Michigan in the first round of the WCHA Playoffs on Saturday. The Huskies went 4-0 at the Berry Events Center in 2019-20 and ended NMU's season on its home ice for the second time in three years.

Tech came back from a one-goal deficit three times in the game and extended its season into the WCHA Semifinals next weekend as the No. 6 seed. The Huskies improved to 21-15-3 and have a nation's best 14 wins on the road.

"I'm really proud of our group. They've been so resilient all year," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "Our guys have a lot of character. They grind it out and find a way to get it done. We've been down in the third many times this season.

"Both goaltenders were phenomenal tonight and you have to give credit to Northern for their effort. This series was two evenly matched teams, and we're fortunate to get out of here with two wins."

Pietila's game-winner was scored on a one-timer from the faceoff dot after a pass from Justin Misiak. Pietila began the play with a faceoff win. Misiak caught the puck and circled to the corner before finding Pietila open for his eighth goal of the season.

"It happened so quickly," Pietila said. "It was a great play by Misiak to find me in the slot, and I just shot it. I wanted to put it on net and it went high glove."

Down 3-2 heading into the third period, Logan Ganie scored his second of the night to tie it up 2:02 after the intermission. Eric Gotz took a shot that got through NMU goaltender Nolan Kent and sat just outside of the crease. Ganie swooped in from behind the net and poked in his fourth of the season. Raymond Brice added the second assist.

Alec Broetzman then found the back of the net with 10:15 left in the third for a go-ahead goal, but the officials reviewed the play and waved it off with an offsides call.

Tommy Parrottino had great chances in each of the first two overtimes. He had a backdoor shot at the doorstep after a backhanded centering pass by Seamus Donohue 6:00 into the first overtime. Parrottino also had a breakaway 5:00 into the second overtime that was turned away.

Each team had a power play in the extra periods. Tech was whistled for too many men on the ice in the first extra session and NMU was called for a slash in the second.

Alec Broetzman hit the crossbar moments before Pietila's game-winner.

"I don't think very many of us have played that long of a game in our careers," senior captain Alex Smith said after his 19th and final game against NMU. "You couldn't have written it up any better. Logan's a freshman and he's been scoring big goals all season."

Five goals were scored in the second period. Mitchell Slattery opened scoring 1:25 after intermission.

Ganie buried his first of the game 8:11 into the second when he jammed in a centering feed by Jake Crespi. Colin Swoyer added the second assist.

NMU took a 2-1 lead when Darien Craighead found the back of the net at 11:13. Philip Beaulieu and Luke Voltin assisted.

Parrottino tied it up 23 seconds later with his fourth goal of the weekend and 14th of the season when he finished off a breakaway from Pietila and Keegan Ford.

Andre Ghantous scored the final goal for the Wildcats just under 4:00 later for the 3-2 lead heading into the second intermission. Rylan Yaremko added the assist.

Matt Jurusik made 43 saves to set a new personal career-high as the Tech netminder. Kent stopped 32 shots for the home team and his teammates blocked 39 shots in front of him.

The two teams combined for 12 penalties that totaled 32 minutes. Neither team scored on the power play.

Saturday's game was the 17th longest game in NCAA history. The longest game Tech played was also in the first round of the WCHA Playoffs on March 14, 2015, with a 1-0 win over Alabama Huntsville.

Tech will play at either No. 1 seed Minnesota State or No. 5 seed Bowling Green in the WCHA Semifinals, depending on the outcome of the Game 3 matchup between No. 2 Bemidji State and No. 7 Lake Superior State. A Beavers win sends the Huskies to Mankato. Tech will travel to BGSU with an LSSU victory.