This story was written by MTU Athletics. (MTU Photo)

SATURDAY GAME RECAP
 

MARQUETTE, Mich. – Jake Crespi scored 2:11 into overtime to lift No. 20 Michigan Tech to a 3-2 victory at Northern Michigan Saturday (Feb. 27). The Huskies won their eighth in a row over the Wildcats, seventh straight at the Berry Events Center, and 17th game of the season.

"I give Northern Michigan a lot of credit. They were down to four defensemen late in the game and we came after them," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "I thought our guys played very hard. We had a slow start but we played well as a team and got better."

Crespi buried his second of the weekend after he intercepted a pass in the neutral zone, walked in on a breakaway, and fired in his fifth of the season to seal the win.

"Crespi gets another big goal for us," added Shawhan. "He's a talented young man that keeps growing for us."

The Huskies jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of power-play goals on two separate 5:00 majors called against NMU.

Tommy Parrottino gave Tech the lead 8:55 into the second period when he redirected a shot from the point by Colin Swoyer. Brian Halonen added the second assist on Parrottino's fifth of the season.

Colin Swoyer added to the lead 4:01 into the second period. He controlled the puck and faked like he was going around the net before centering a shot that deflected off the goaltender and across the line. Brian Halonen and Brett Thorne assisted on Swoyer's third of the season.

NMU (8-15-1, 6-7-1 WCHA) was able to climb back into the game late in the third. Rylan Van Unen scored at 14:26 of the third as he cleaned up a rebound. Michael Van Unen and Connor Marritt and assisted.

The home team got a power play late in the game and pulled its goaltender for the extra attacker with 2:28 remaining. After the Tech penalty expired, André Ghantous tied the game with 59.3 seconds left with Michael Van Unen and Vincent de Mey earning the assists.

Shots were even at 29. NMU dominated the first 12-2, and Tech controlled much of the second with an 11-6 advantage in shots.

Blake Pietila had 27 saves for the Huskies and improved his record to 14-5-0. Rico DiMatteo stopped 26 shots for the home team. He came up big on a Brian Halonen breakaway in the first period and had a shot by Alec Broetzman hit the post in the second period.

Tech was 2-for-4 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. NMU has called for five major penalties in six games against Tech this season. The Wildcats totaled 45 penalty minutes in the series.

The Huskies wrap up the regular season at No. 3 Minnesota State next weekend.

FRIDAY GAME RECAP

HOUGHTON, Mich. – The No. 20-ranked Michigan Tech hockey team tied a season-high with six goals in a 6-1 victory over Northern Michigan Friday (Feb. 26) on Senior Night at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The Huskies improved to 16-8-1 overall and 6-5 in the WCHA after the fifth win over NMU this season and the seventh straight.

"I don't think it was a 6-1 game. It was a lot more even than that," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "We were able to come out on the special teams battle and the bounces went our way tonight."

Brett Thorne scored his first collegiate goal 5:49 into the game when he beat a defenseman to the outside and fired a tight-angled shot that found its way across the goal line. Colin Swoyer and Logan Ganie picked up the assists.

"It feels good," Thorne said. "It's been a decent amount of games but it's awesome to finally get the first one. I just took the puck wide almost to the goal line. I got lucky by banking it off the goalie's foot and into the net."

Alec Broetzman scored one of his two power-play goals with 26 seconds left in the first period. He banged in a rebound after a shot by Arvid Caderoth. Eric Gotz added the second assist.

NMU (8-14-1, 6-6-1 WCHA) got on the board 8:27 into the second with a power-play goal by Ben Newhouse. André Ghantous and Joseph Nardi assisted.

Tech took over from there. Brian Halonen buried his seventh of the season blasting in a one-timer from Chris Lipe. Tyler Rockwell added the second assist as the Huskies pulled goaltender Blake Pietila on a delayed penalty and patiently controlled play.

Jake Crespi scored Tech's first shorthanded goal of the season at 16:47 of the second period to make it 4-1. He stole a pass deep in the defensive zone and used his speed to create a breakaway and score his fourth of the season.

Tech used a 5:00 major power play to add to the lead late in the game. Broetzman scored his second of the night with a tic-tac-toe passing play from Trenton Bliss and Arvid Caderoth at 15:33. It was Broetzman's 12th of the season and sixth on the power play.

Tyler Rockwell scored the final goal of the game on his Senior Night with 1:31 remaining. He fired a shot through traffic for his fourth of the season and second on the power play. Trenton Bliss and Parker Saretsky assisted.

Tech outshot NMU 36-29. Pietila earned his 13th win of the season with 28 saves. Rico DiMatteo was the third NMU goaltender Tech faced this season. He made 30 saves for the visitors.

"Blake was great in that first period," added Shawhan. "They had a number of opportunities that he had to come up big for. His numbers are off the charts this season, and his consistency has been outstanding. He's giving us a chance every game."

The Huskies were 3-for-7 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill.

Tech honored seniors Justin Misiak, David Raisanen, Greyson Reitmeier, Tyler Rockwell, Marcus Russell, Mark Sinclair, and Cooper Watson after the game.

The two teams will wrap up the series in Marquette on Saturday for the sixth meeting of the regular season. The puck drops at 6:07 p.m.