Stories, photos are courtesy of NMU Sports Information
SUNDAY GAME RECAP
SAULT STE MARIE, Mich. -- The Wildcat dropped game two of the Cappo Cup series by a score of 2-1 in regulation.
The Wildcats (1-21-0, 1-13-0 CCHA) outshot the Lakers (8-13-1, 5-9-0 CCHA) 44-30, including 73 shot attempts to 55. Senior alternate captain Caiden Gault scored his 12th goal of the season, and the line of Gault, Girts Silkalns, and Kyle Bettens continued its great stretch of play, with Bettens adding an assist on the Gault goal. Freshman netminder Oliver Auyeung-Ashton made 28 saves in back-to-back nights, posting another .933 SV%.
Special teams were crucial, as LSSU went 1/3 on their mad-advantage opportunities while holding NMU off the board on four attempts before scoring the eventual game-winning goal while short-handed.
The Wildcats, in a similar fashion to last night, jumped out to a fast start. Auyeung-Ashton made some big saves in his second consecutive start, Jakub Altrichter hit the post, and NMU outshot LSSU 13-9 with 21 attempts to 16 before Matthew Ward was shistled for a penalty. The Wildcat kill was exceptional for a minute and 52 seconds, holding the Lakers without a shot on target and only two attempts, but Hadley Hudak found a bounce in the slot to score his first career collegiate goal and point.
Netminder Auyeung-Ashton had to be sharp to start the second frame, and the freshman goalie came up big on multiple occasions, springboarding the 'Cats to a dominant next handful of minutes. After the Wildcats controlled play and generated numerous grade-A chances, Caiden Gault scored his 12th of the season after finishing off a great rush from Kyle Bettens. NMU carried momentum after scoring, garnering their first power play of the night and out-shooting LSSU 8-4 before an NMU penalty with a minute to go. William Ahlrik was whistled for winning the ensuing faceoff with his hand, Ward and Adam Barone took coincidental penalties a minute later, and the teams would begin period three at four-on-four.
The Wildcats had two chances on the power play in the final frame but were unable to capitalize on either chance before giving up a short-handed goal to Connor Milburn, who stripped the puck off Altrichter's stick and went down the ice, scoring the eventual game-winning goal after cleaning up his own rebound.
SATURDAY GAME RECAP
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. -- The Wildcats opened the Cappo Cup season series with the Lake Superior State Lakers with a 2-1 overtime loss.
The Wildcats (1-20-0, 1-12-0 CCHA) earned a CCHA overtime point and got the 11th goal of the season from senior alternate captain Caiden Gault, who was named third-star of the game. The Wildcats had several skaters return from injury, including netminder Oliver Auyeung-Ashton, who made 28 saves for a .933 SV% in his first game back since early November.
The Lakers (7-13-1, 4-9-0 CCHA) thought they opened the scoring, but captain Connor Milburn found his way on top of a sprawled-out Auyeung-Ashton, and the goal was immediately waved off. After the disallowed goal, the Wildcats carried the play for seemingly the rest of the period. The shot count ended 8-8 after the first 20 minutes, but NMU held a 21-9 advantage in shot attempts and held a clear advantage in high-danger opportunities. Both teams were unsuccessful on their only power play opportunity, respectively, with Joe Schiller's minor penalty carrying over for a minute and a half into the second period.
The Wildcats killed the rest of the carryover penalty, and the best chance from any team came from an abbreviated Michael Burchill breakaway. The Lakers broke the scoreless deadlock 14 minutes into the second period, as Calem Mangone converted on a one-timer from the left faceoff circle. The Wildcats brought intensity in the final minutes of the middle period, but it was the Lakers who controlled the majority of play, outshooting NMU 12-8 with 21 attempts to 16. Both teams took two penalties in the second, but both were offsetting minors.
NMU evened the game a minute and a half into the third period, as Caiden Gault scored his 11th goal, finishing off a beautiful bang-bang play from Bettens and Silkalns. After the goal, NMU found momentum similar to the first period, outshooting LSSU 14-7 in the final frame with Jakub Altrichter nearly ending the game with two seconds remaining in regulation.
In overtime, Auyeung-Ashton made a save on a two-on-one, Medrick Bolduc hit the post at the other end, then defenseman Adam Barone scored the second goal of his collegiate career on a breakaway after receiving a perfect pass from Branden Piku.
