HOUGHTON, Mich. — Michigan Tech, off to its best start since 1972-73, saw that great start continue with a 2-0 victory against visiting Alaska-Anchorage Friday night at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.
The hosts improved to 7-0-0 overall and 5-0-0 in WCHA play.
The Huskies got a goal and an assist from Malcolm Gould in the win.
“We’re really working hard as a team,” said Gould. “We are playing a full 60 minutes and that’s really important. We’re working hard and the big thing is we are burying our chances.”
The Huskies got the game-winner on the power play 6:31 into the second period. Tyler Heinonen scored his second power play in as many games when he pushed a rebound past a sprawled Olivier Mantha. Gould and co-captain Tanner Kero assisted on the goal.
The Huskies’ first good scoring chance of the night came off the stick of Walker Hyland less than four minutes in. Hyland’s shot from the right point was stopped by Mantha. The Huskies used the momentum gained from that play to keep the puck deep in the Seawolves’ end for long stretches in the early going.
“They have a heck of a team,” said Seawolves’ coach Matt Thomas. “I don’t think we played well at all. They just came out and outskated us. They outcompeted us.”
Dylan Steman intercepted a pass nine minutes in and skated in alone on Mantha. Steman’s backhand beat Mantha, but not the post to Mantha’s left.
Mantha finished the night with 44 saves.
It took the Seawolves nearly 11 minutes to finally get some sustained pressure in the Huskies’ zone. They earned a power play for their efforts, but were unable to find the net with any of the pucks they threw near goaltender Jamie Phillips.
The Seawolves (4-3-2 overall, 1-2-0 WCHA) did have a golden opportunity to score when Austin Azurdia pounced on a loose puck in front of Phillips. Unfortunately, his stick broke as he attempted a shot, nullifying the scoring chance.
The Huskies recovered from the penalty kill and regained control of play, finishing the opening frame with an 18-4 advantage in shots.
Despite the wide advantage, MTU coach Mel Pearson felt his team could not get the looks they wanted.
“I thought it was a lot different game than it was last weekend,” said Pearson. “They defended really well tonight around their net. They did a great job of tying our guys up.”
Captain Scott Allen had a good chance early in the second to give the visitors the lead when he cut in on Phillips and unleased a wrist shot. Phillips used his right shoulder to keep the game even.
“We just kept to our game plan,” said Phillips. “[We] really dominated the whole game.”
A little over a minute later, Huskies’ co-captain Blake Pietila skated the puck the length of the rink, but was stopped when he made a move to fire a wrist shot.
Less than a minute after that, Mike Neville took a pass from Heinonen and hit the post with a one-timer.
The Seawolves’ Tad Kozun took a penalty for boarding, setting up the game-winning tally for the Huskies.
The Huskies got another power play less than four minutes later, but this time, it was the visitors with the best scoring chances.
Chris Williams took a cross-ice pass from Blake Tatchell for the first shot that Phillips had to stop. Williams got the puck off the ensuing faceoff and fed Austin Sevalrud, but his shot was also stopped by Phillips.
The Huskies controlled play for several minutes before the Seawolves got near Phillips again. When they did, it was Brad Duwe with a chance off a rebound, but he was stopped by the outstretched left leg of Phillips.
Allen had a chance to tie the game just under 30 seconds into the third, but his shot was gloved by Phillips, who made 19 saves to get the shutout.
Gould scored the insurance goal the Huskies needed 11:18 into the third when he spun around and fired a wrister over Mantha’s left shoulder. Shane Hanna and Neville each assisted on the tally.
The Seawolves appeared to cut the Huskies’ lead in half late in the game with a power-play goal. However, upon review, it was determined the puck was knocked in with a hand, so the play was called back.
Thomas pulled Mantha with 3:20 remaining and the Seawolves still on the man-advantage. The Seawolves got a few pucks through to Phillips with the extra skater on the ice, but could not find a way to beat the Winnipeg Jets draft pick.
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