Mavericks double up Huskies 4-2
Courtesy of MTU Athletics
MANKATO, Minn. — No. 9-ranked Minnesota State defeated Michigan Tech 4-2 at Verizon Wireless Center tonight in WCHA hockey. The Huskies’ Alex Petan scored his 12th and 13th goals of the season, but it was not enough to lift the Black and Gold to a third straight win.
Playing on the large ice sheet for just the fourth time this season, Tech had a hard time generating offensive chances. The Mavericks put up a 36-22 advantage in shots on goal.
“We couldn’t quite get in sync,” said head coach Mel Pearson. “Give them credit. Their speed and quickness gave us problems on the big sheet. They played a more tenacious game tonight.”
For the fifth consecutive game, Tech got on the board first. MSU’s Max Gaede was called for a five-minute major for boarding on Daniel Sova. On the ensuing power play, Petan fired a shot through MSU netminder Stephon Williams at the 4:35 mark. Jujhar Khaira and Ryan Furne had assists on the play.
The hosts answered later in the frame with a power-play goal of their own. Dylan Margonari walked in from the blue line and put one past Pheonix Copley.
The Mavericks found the back of the net again in the first 70 seconds of the second period as Eriah Hayes collected a loose puck in the offensive zone and tucked it inside the left post.
Petan knotted the game back up at 2-all with his second power-play goal of the game. The sophomore banked a shot from below the left faceoff dot off Williams and into the net. David Johnstone and Steven Seigo picked up assists on the play.
MSU regained the lead for good when Johnny McInnis scored on a slap shot at the 13:38 mark of the second period.
Tech killed off a 5-on-3 to start the third, but surrendered another goal at the 3:31 mark as Matt Leitner slid the puck around Copley.
The hosts kept the pressure on Copley the entire third period and posted a 16-7 advantage in the frame.
The Huskies finished 2-for-6 on the power play compared to the Mavericks’ 1-for-3 mark on the man advantage. Copley, who started his 12th consecutive game, made 32 saves. Williams had 20 stops.
The two teams will skate again tomorrow to wrap up their two-game series. Faceoff is set for 8:07 p.m. ET.