Time ran out on Michigan Tech’s comeback bid as visiting Alaska-Anchorage gained a 5-4 WCHA victory over the Huskies on Halloween eve.
It was a 1-1 standoff after 20 minutes. Clay Wilson scored on the power play at 14:38 to provide Michigan Tech’s marker after the Seawolves had taken a 1-0 lead three minutes earlier. The Huskies could have easily had an advantage had it not been for UAA netminder John DeCaro. In the first five minutes alone, Chris Conner had three golden opportunities.
The visitors erupted for three goals in the first half of the second period to take a 4-1 lead. That prompted Tech coach Jamie Russell to pull goaltender Bryce Luker and bring on rookie Kevin Hachey for the first time. Before Hachey made his first save, he gained an assist on Chris Conner’s first goal of the season at 14:49. Marek Dora also gained an assist. Tech got to within 4-3 before the close of the stanza when rookie defenseman Mark Malekoff rocketed one home from the center point after an errant clearing attempt by the Seawolves.
UAA’s Bret Arcand-Kooteney beat Hachey from the slot just :45 into the third period, but Nick Anderson’s power play goal off a rebound of Colin Murphy’s shot at 5:29 got the Huskies back to within one at 5-4. Tech nearly tied the game with 5:07 left as Jimmy Kerr got a clean break up the middle from the neutral zone in, but his shot clanked solidly off the left post.
Luker played the first 30:01 and made 16 saves, while Hachey had six saves in the final 28:56. DeCaro made 39 saves to pick up the win for Alaska Anchorage.
Tech returns home Thursday (Nov. 4) to host Northern Michigan in the first of four games in the battle for the Ramada Cup. Opening faceoff is set for 7:07 p.m.
NOTES: Tech defensemen contributed five scoring points, with two assists from Marek Dora, an assist from Lars Helminen, Malekoff’s goal, and a goal from Clay Wilson. … Junior Nick Anderson scored his second goal in as many nights. … Tech was two-for-seven on the power play, while UAA was two-for-five . … MTU had a 43-27 shots advantage in the contest.
