This story was written by MTU Athletics
 

HOUGHTON– Jamie Phillips made 22 saves and three different Michigan Tech skaters scored goals as the No. 14/15 Huskies rolled past Lake Superior State 3-1 to complete a two-game sweep on Winter Carnival weekend in front of 3,582 at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

The win gives Tech its 45th Winter Carnival series championship in 67 tries. The Huskies are 75-45-14 all-time in Winter Carnival games.

"I'm really proud of our players," said head coach Mel Pearson, who has led the Huskies to a 7-2-1 on Winter Carnival weekend since coming back to Tech in 2011-12. "We got the points we needed. Max Vallis had a terrific weekend and deserved the MVP. It seems like every week we have someone else stepping up for us and it's very important for us to win a trophy like the MacInnes Cup."

CJ Eick started the scoring with a beautiful shorthanded goal late in the first period. AfterChris Leibinger chipped a pass out of the zone, Eick raced past a Lake State defenseman, cut to the net and fired a wrister just under the crossbar for Tech's third shorthanded tally of the season.

Tech wasted little time widening the gap in the second period as Max Vallis and Jake Lucchini connected for a pair of goals in the first six minutes of the frame to blow the game open.

A good shift led to Vallis' third goal of the weekend at 1:53 on a spin-around shot from the left circle. Michael Neville started the play when he won a battle and centered to Reid Sturos. Sturos' stick snapped as he tried to one-time the puck, but it squirted right to Vallis in the circle for a put back into the open net.

Then, at 6:00, Lucchini buried his fourth of the year from nearly the same spot when he slapped home a rebound. Brent Baltus andAlex Gillies were credited with assists on the play.

Michigan Tech (16-7-5 overall; 13-6-3 WCHA) has a week off before hitting the road to play Bemidji State Feb. 19-20.

The following is a recap of Friday's game. courtesy of MTU Athletics

HOUGHTON---Max Vallis scored twice and Matt Roy added a single goal while senior goaltender Jamie Phillips stopped 31 shots to help Michigan Tech shut out Lake Superior State 3-0, Friday, in front of 3,648 at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

The shutout was Phillips' ninth as a Husky and gave him 49 career victories – good for second all-time in the Michigan Tech record books.

"It was a tough game tonight but a lot of that is due to Lake State," said head coach Mel Pearson. "They did a good job of neutralizing our speed but having said that we did a good job of grinding it out and finding a way to get goals. Jamie Phillips was excellent in goal and Max Vallis was great."

After a scoreless opening frame, Vallis connected for a pair of second-period goals to give the Huskies a two-goal cushion through 40 minutes. The Santa Clara, Calif., native buried his first of the night just 1:57 into the second on a turnaround slapper from the slot. Following a Dane Birks play to hold the offensive zone, Reid Sturos batted a loose puck between the circles. Vallis, who was posted up high in the slot, found the puck and sent a spin-around effort into the top corner.

Then, with 17:54 gone in the frame, Vallis scored again – on another snipe – to double Tech's lead. The scoring play started when Sturos chipped a puck past the Lake State defense and into the zone. Vallis skated around a Lakers defender, won a battle for the puck and threaded a wrister from a tight angle off the water bottle. Shane Hanna also earned an assist on the goal.

Roy closed the scoring 6:39 into the third when he unloaded a well-placed shot from just inside the blue line. A good forecheck by Dylan Steman ended with him winning a puck battle and sending a pass up the middle to Roy at the point. Roy settled the puck, waited for a screen and beat Lake State goalie Gordon Defiel low blocker.

Michigan Tech (15-7-5 overall; 12-6-3 WCHA) and Lake Superior State conclude the two-game Winter Carnival series Saturday at 5:07 p.m. Limited tickets still remain.