HOUGHTON, Mich. — Looking to extend its season-opening winning streak to six, Michigan Tech used the power play effectively to do just that, defeating visiting Michigan 6-2 on Saturday night.
The Huskies struck four times on the man advantage to get the victory and beat the Wolverines in front of a sold-out crowd of 4,466 for the second straight night.
Alex Petan and co-captain Blake Pietila each notched a power-play goal and two assists in the contest for MTU.
“We were trying to be relaxed out there,” said Petan. “We kind of fed off of what they were doing and we switched it up just a little bit.”
The Wolverines (2-5-0 overall) jumped on the Huskies early when Zach Hyman got a shot right off a faceoff to Jamie Phillips’ left. Phillips made the stop, one of his 26 for the night.
“Any time you get a team like the University of Michigan and find a way to win two games it’s huge,” said MTU coach Mel Pearson. “I feel great for our players and so happy for our fans.”
Alex Kile had a golden opportunity to give the Wolverines the lead when he skated through the slot and deked to his backhand. Phillips matched his movement, however, to make the stop.
The Huskies broke the scoreless tie and gained the game’s momentum when Tanner Kero intercepted a pass across the offensive blueline by the Wolverines’ defense. Skating in alone from his own blue line, Kero shot the puck through Steve Racine’s legs and in at 4:15.
“We didn’t give up as many Grade A chances,” said Wolverines’ coach Red Berenson. “But their first scoring chance was a breakaway. It’s pretty hard to say we got off to a better start.”
Tyler Heinonen extended the Huskies’ lead at 7:19 on the power play. Alex Gillies fed Blake Hietala in front the net. Hietala backhanded the puck to Heinonen, who buried the puck in the open goal.
Michigan captain Andrew Copp cut the Huskies’ lead in half on a three-on-two play two minutes later. Copp took a drop pass from Tyler Motte and fired a wrist shot that beat Phillips over the shoulder.
David Johnstone regained the Huskies’ two-goal lead at 14:28 after Dylan Larkin was whistled for tripping. Johnstone took a pass from Pietila and blasted a slap shot over Racine’s right shoulder. The goal stood as the game-winner.
“It’s been a great ride so far,” said Pietila. “We kind of set a tone for how we are going to play at home the rest of the year. We beat a real good hockey team in two games.”
The Huskies (6-0-0) scored their third consecutive power-play goal 7:50 into the second period when Pietila got a pass in the high slot from Petan. Pietila quickly turned and fired a shot pass Racine from the slot.
Petan made it four consecutive man-advantage goals when he blasted a slap shot from the right point past Racine at 14:54. Pietila fed the puck to Petan for the goal.
That goal spelled the end of Racine’s night in net as Zach Nagelvoort replaced him at that point.
The Wolverines broke the Huskies’ scoring streak when Nolan De Jong found Max Shuart on the back door just 41 seconds into the third.
Phillips made his best stop of the night on Tony Calderone almost eight minutes into the period. Calderone got the pass in slot and fired a wrister, but Phillips gloved it.
The Huskies regained their four-goal lead when Hietala found Brent Baltus cutting to the net. Baltus took the pass and fired a wrist shot past Nagelvoort at 9:59.
Racine and Nagelvoort combined for 21 saves on the night.
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