Huskies win 3-1 over MSU in Winter Carnival opener
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Minnesota State (14-11-4, 10-7-2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
|
Michigan Tech (12-12-6, 9-8-2) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech opened its annual Winter Carnival series with a 3-1 victory over Minnesota State Friday (Feb. 9) at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The Huskies never trailed and the penalty kill unit stepped up late in the game with three kills in the third period.
"I thought we competed hard with intensity and purpose," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "We matched their intensity and played off of each other. We got outstanding goaltending and our penalty kill was spectacular."
Ryland Mosley opened scoring only 66 seconds into the game when he finished off a 2-on-1 with Max Koskipirtti for his team-leading 14th goal of the season. Isaac Gordon added the second assist to extend his point streak to seven games.
"We came out with a purpose tonight and got one early," Mosley said. "Gordo and Max make great plays, and I had a wide-open net. Max made a great pass on the 2-on-1."
MSU (14-11-4, 10-7-2 CCHA) tied it up on the power play 12:19 into the second when Kaden Bohlsen scored from Josh Groll and Brett Moravec.
The Huskies quickly responded with a patient backdoor pass from Nick Williams to Logan Pietila 1:34 later to take the lead back. Jack Works also assisted on Pietila's eighth of the season and 40th of his career.
"Willy made a great play to me," Logan said. "I was hoping he was seeing me on the backdoor. I just didn't want the goalie to get his stick on it."
The Mavericks were gifted four power plays down the stretch and the Huskies held on. Blake Pietila made 11 saves in each of the first two periods and nine in the third. He came up huge with a glove save on a backdoor chance with 1:38 left.
MSU added the extra attacker on the ensuing faceoff. Blake made four straight saves and then Jed Pietila cleared the puck off the glass and down the ice into the empty net from deep in his offensive zone with 9.2 seconds left. It was Jed's first goal of the season and second of his career.
Alex Tracy made 22 saves for the visitors, including a huge pad save on a breakaway by Isaac Gordon in the second period. Four different Huskies registered three shots on goal.
The Huskies improved to 12-12-6 overall and 9-8-2 in the CCHA after their third win over MSU this season. Tech remains tied in fourth place in the conference standings with Bemidji State.
"They're going to come at us tomorrow night with everything they have," added Shawhan. "Every game with them seems like it's a one-goal game. Points in the standings are huge, and we have to be ready."
"The crowd was awesome again tonight," Mosley added. "You can hear them every shift. It's an awesome feeling playing here in these big games."
The two teams will wrap up the CCHA and Winter Carnival series at 5:07 p.m. on Saturday. A weekend MVP will be named by the Winter Carnival Royal Majesty and the team with the most goals in the series will be awarded the MacInnes Trophy by a member of the MacInnes family.
