Huskies and Bulldogs tie, Tech wins shootout

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BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – No. 14 Michigan Tech skated to a 5-5 tie at Ferris State Saturday and won the shootout after overtime for the extra CCHA point. The Huskies came back from a two-goal, third-period deficit.

"I think we needed that," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "We needed to have our backs against the wall and turn it up and tie the game. We looked a little bit more like ourselves as the game went on. We gave up more than we wanted, but it was nice to score some goals.

"The effort was certainly there and we found the execution. This is something to build on tonight."

Tech entered the third period down 4-2. Trenton Bliss scored his second of the game to cut into the deficit 9:43 into the period. A shot by Brian Halonen rebounded out and Bliss chipped in the rebound over the goaltender for his 11th of the season. Brett Thorne assisted on the goal.

The Bulldogs were whistled for too many men on the ice on the Bliss goal and Tech quickly capitalized to tie the game. Brian Halonen carried the puck into the zone and ripped in his 20th goal of the season 33 seconds later from Brett Thorne and goaltender Mark Sinclair.

The scoring continued in the third with the Bulldogs regaining the lead with 4:19 left. Zach Faremouth poked in a loose puck shorthanded after a shot by Jacob Dirks deflected off a defenseman and over Mark Sinclair and sat loose in the crease.

Alec Broetzman tied it up with 2:46 left in the third when he put in a rebound after a shot by Colin Swoyer was kicked out. Brian Halonen also assisted on Broetzman's sixth of the season.

Brian Halonen, Logan Pietila, Trenton Bliss, and Colin Swoyer all had chances in the overtime.

Trenton Bliss and Logan Pietila scored in the shootout that went five rounds. The Bulldogs scored once on Mark Sinclair in the shootout as he made the final save.

Tech is now 19-9-3 overall and 16-6-2 in the CCHA.

The Bulldogs opened scoring in the game with a 5-on-3 power-play goal by Bradley Marek who tipped in a shot from the point by Brendan Michaelian. Luke Farthing added the secondary assist.

Logan Pietila tied the game 3:24 later when he one-timed in a drop pass from Tristan Ashbrook for his 10th of the season. Chris Lipe assisted on a stretch pass up to Ashbrook.

Trenton Bliss then gave the Huskies the lead as he made a beautiful move on a breakaway for his 10th of the season. Colin Swoyer fed it up the ice and Michael Karow also assisted.

FSU tied it up on a rebound goal by Zach Faremouth. Antonio Venuto and Brendan Michaelian were credited with the assists.

Jacob Dirks banked a puck off of Blake Pietila's skate from behind the net to put the Bulldogs in front 3-2.  Brenden Rons and Brenden MacLaren were gifted assists.

Kaleb Ergang scored on a rebound from Mitch Deelstra to make a two-goal game with the only goal of the second period 7:55 after intermission.

Tech led in shots 40-30. Blake Pietila had 10 saves in the first 15:45, and Mark Sinclair stopped 15 shots in the final 49:12.

The Huskies were 2-for-5 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill.

Tech heads home for the regular-season finale next weekend, hosting Minnesota State Friday and Saturday at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Saturday will be Senior Day as Trenton Bliss, Tyrell Buckley, Alec Broetzman, Eric Gotz, Brian Halonen, Michael Karow, Justin Misiak, Tommy Parrottino, Mark Sinclair, and Colin Swoyer will be honored after the game.