Alex Stalock versus Michael-Lee Teslak has meant almost no scoring.
In two meetings of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association goalies, there have been two ties and two goals between Minnesota Duluth and Michigan Tech, total.
They matched up again Saturday at the DECC and there were just two goals through two periods before UMD went on to claim a 4-1 victory before a crowd of 4,486 spectators.
The No. 17-ranked Bulldogs (5-3-2 overall, 4-3-1 WCHA) secured the win with two empty-net goals in the final 22 seconds. They remain unbeaten at home this season (4-0-2), and moved into a third-place tie with Michigan Tech in the WCHA.
No. 18 Michigan Tech (5-6-1, 4-5-1) outshot UMD 40-30, but had its winless streak stretched to five (0-4-1). The teams tied 1-1 Friday.
“Michigan Tech has almost the same identity as we do, a tough defensive team,” said Stalock, who has allowed just seven goals in six home games. “We prepare for every game thinking it’s going to be a one-goal game.
“Tonight was back-and-forth and each team controlled their zones. Michigan Tech had a lot of shots, but there weren’t that many quality chances.’’
After a scoreless first period, UMD scored twice in the second. Senior center Matt McKnight beat Teslak on a sharp-angled shot from the left circle at 7:16 to make it 1-0.
Michigan Tech outshot UMD 18-10 for the period, but fell further behind with 1:43 to go on a delayed penalty. The Bulldogs got an extra attacker on the ice and, ultimately, defenseman Josh Meyers did some stickhandling at the right circle, faked a defender down and shot high over Teslaks shoulder.
“The tie Friday, we looked at almost as a loss because we didn’t play that well,” said Meyers, who took over UMD’s scoring lead with two goals and an assist. “We were better [Saturday], not good, but we needed three points after losing [twice] last week at Colorado College.”
“We played a very complete game,” coach Jamie Russell said of his Huskies. “We got pucks to the net and had chances, and felt we were the better team territorially. But give UMD credit, they got the job done, and Alex Stalock was absolutely amazing.”
Stalock and Teslak had previously tied 0-0 Nov. 10, 2006, in Houghton, Mich., and went 1-1 Friday.
Michigan Tech senior winger Tyler Shelast had two goals in two nights, both on power plays. He has 41 career goals, 26 on power plays. On Saturday he connected on a rebound at 7:49 of the third period to get the Huskies within 2-1.
Teslak was pulled with a minute to go, and Meyers scored with 22 seconds left and Michael Gergen hit with six seconds to go.
“We weren’t sharp, but we got timely goals and had puck patience. It was a grind-it-out game,” UMD coach Scott Sandelin said.
Kevin Pates covers Minnesota-Duluth for the Duluth News-Tribune in Duluth, Minn.
