Huskies sweep Tommies to advance to CCHA Semis
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
St. Thomas (11-23-2) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
|
Michigan Tech (24-9-4) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
HOUGHTON, Mich. – After only one goal was scored in Game 1 between No. 11 Michigan Tech and St. Thomas, the teams combined for nine goals in Game 2, and the Huskies advanced to the CCHA Semifinals with a 5-4 victory Saturday. Tech improved to 24-9-4 and will host Northern Michigan on Saturday, March 11 at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.
Tristan Ashbrook and Kyle Kukkonen each scored a pair of goals for the Huskies with Jack Works also finding the back of the net. Blake Pietila made 30 saves and moved into a tie for the school record for wins by a Michigan Tech goaltender with 58.
Coach Joe Shawhan picked up his 119th career win and is now second in program history in wins behind only John MacInnes.
"We needed wins to put ourselves in a good position for the national tournament and hopefully this weekend solidified our bid," Shawhan said. "Goofy things happen in elimination games. It was hard to get the win. It was a battle because they just didn't go away."
After getting down 1-0 midway through the first, the Huskies scored four straight to take a commanding lead. Tristan Ashbrook knotted it at one 9:36 into the first with a long shot that squeaked through the five-hole. Evan Orr and Chris Lipe assisted.
Jack Works gave Tech the lead at 17:32 of the second when he redirected a shot by Jed Pietila. Ashbrook also assisted on the eighth goal of the season by Works.
Tristan Ashbrook made it 3-1 with another redirect on a shot by Parker Saretsky with only 19 seconds left in the first for his 10th of the season. Ryan O'Connell added the second assist in his 150th collegiate game.
"I've been please to contribute more offensively late in the season, but the main thing is that the team really is clicking together right now, and I'm seeing the benefits of that," Ashbrook said.
Kyle Kukkonen extended his point streak to six games with a shorthanded tally late in the second. Logan Pietila had the setup on the one-timer with Jed Pietila picking up his second point of the night.
"I wasn't sure what Logan was going to do so I just went to the net. He made a great play to me," Kukkonen said.
St. Thomas (11-23-2) scored on the power play with 41.5 seconds left to cut into the lead. Luc Laylin took a shot that deflected off a Husky in front with the assist going to Cameron Cameron.
Kyle Kukkonen scored his eighth goal in the last six games with a power move past former Michigan Tech defenseman Grant Docter 7:49 into the third. It was the 18th goal of the season for Kukkonen. He ranks fourth in scoring amongst all rookies to lead the CCHA. Jed Pietila and Jake Crespi assisted.
The Tommies scored twice to make it a one-goal game. Matthew Jennings scored from Quinton Pepper at 9:22 of the third.
Mack Byers made it 5-4 with a 6-on-4 extra attacker and power-play goal with 1:09 left.
UST pulled its goaltender again but the Huskies blocked a pair of shots to seal the win.
Jake Crespi scored 1:26 after faceoff but it was waved off after a successful coach's challenge for a major penalty earlier in the play.
Mack Byer was credited with the first goal of the game after a shot deflected off a Tech defenseman 8:25 into the game.
Shots were tied at 34. Tech was 3-for-5 on the penalty kill and 0-for-3 on the power play.
Tickets for Saturday's CCHA Semifinal will go on sale at 8 a.m. Monday.
Ferris State will play at No. 13 Minnesota State in the other CCHA Mason Cup Semifinal.
