Huskies sweep Mavs in Mankato with 3-2 win
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Michigan Tech (6-6-3, 4-2-0) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
|
Minnesota State (5-6-1, 3-3-0) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
MANKATO, Minn. – Michigan Tech earned its first CCHA sweep of the season with a 3-2 victory at Minnesota State on Saturday (Nov. 25). The Huskies won their third straight game—all by the score of 3-2—to pick up their first ever sweep in Mankato and improve to 6-6-3 overall and 4-2-0 in the CCHA.
"It was a great job by the guys grinding that one out," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "Mankato gave a couple of good pushes, and we actually pushed back. We've taken points in five of six in league play. I really like this group, and we're going to keep growing and getting better."
Isaac Gordon opened scoring with his second of the weekend and eighth of the season with 1:49 left in the first period. Kash Rasmussen created a turnover behind the net and muscled the puck out front for a quick one-timer.
There wasn't any scoring in the second period with strong goaltending by both teams. Alex Tracy had big saves on wraparound tries by Blais Richartz and Jack Works, and Blake Pietila stopped 14 shots in the second.
MSU (5-6-1, 3-3-0 CCHA) tied it up 1:15 into the third period when Brian Carrabes put in a rebound after a shot by Adam Eisele went wide and bounced off the back wall and out front.
The Huskies stayed with it and got a great setup by Matthew Campbell to Jack Works for a 2-1 lead with 8:36 left in the third. Chase Pietila also assisted as Campbell fed Works out front from the sidewall for his fourth of the season.
Tyrone Bronte drew a penalty with 2:43 remaining, and Max Koskipirtti scored on the ensuing power play to make it a two-goal lead with 1:15 left on the third-period clock. He took a quick snapshot from the faceoff dot to the left of the goaltender for his second goal as a Husky. Jed Pietila and Marcus Pedersen assisted on the goal.
The Mavericks didn't go quietly, netting an extra attacker goal with 28.7 seconds left to bring it back to a one-goal game. Luc Wilson scored from Evan Murr and Steven Bellini.
The home team pulled its goaltender again but never got any shots toward the net before time expired.
Blake Pietila made 29 saves for the victory, his fifth of the season and 63rd of his career. Alex Tracy stopped 25 shots for the home team.
The Huskies were 1-for-1 on both the power play and penalty kill.
Tech returns to the UP for the next four games. The Huskies host Bowling Green at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena next weekend before a home and away matchup with Northern Michigan.
