Injuries not helping Wildcats’cause
BEMIDJI, Minn. — The Wildcats dropped game two from Bemidji State by a final score of 6-2.
The Wildcats (0-14-0, 0-6-0) got a multi-point game from Jakub Altrichter, who scored on a penalty shot while adding the primary assist on Matthew Argentina’s first goal of the season. Joe Schiller added the secondary assist on the Argentina goal.
After four goals from Connor McClennon last night, the Beavers (9-5-2, 7-1-2) got a hat-trick from Oliver Peer tonight to go with three points from Kasper Magnussen (2-1–3) and Adam Flammang (0-3–3).
Scheduled for a 7:07 p.m. ET puck-drop, the game was delayed after the playing of the National Anthem, as some of the building lights that were turned off would not turn back on. The delay lasted 11 minutes before both teams accepted the conditions and decided to play. Puck drop came at 7:18 p.m. ET amidst players’ shadows cast across the ice sheet.
The Wildcats were also playing with 10 forwards, as opposed to 12, due to injuries sustained by both Kyle Bettens and Medrick Bolduc on Friday night. Another lineup change was that Jackson Fuller replaced goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton, and William Gramme started in back-to-back contests for the first time since playing both nights in Massachusetts to open the season.
After the delay, Bemidji jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as Peer found loose change in the slot three minutes into the first. The period was even aside from that, with NMU holding six shots on target to five. The ‘Cats weren’t able to convert on the game’s first man advantage, but would have a minute of power play time to start the second frame.
While the ‘Cats still had the man advantage, Argentina scored his first of the season just 12 seconds into the middle frame to tie the game at one apiece. The tie was short-lived, as Kasper Magnussen added a power-play tally of his own just a minute and a half later to regain the Beaver lead. Altrichter earned a penalty shot just a minute later, and made a convincing move to the forehand to cut back into the Beaver lead.
Similar to the ‘Cats in the second period, the Beavers converted on a carryover power play just under a minute into the final frame, as Magnussen let go a one-timer from the point that found its way through traffic. Max Namestnikov stole the puck at center and scored a short-handed breakaway goal, Peer completed his hat-trick on an empty net, and the game would end 6-2.
‘Cat Nips
- Altrichter notched a goal and an assist, giving the forward four points in his last four games
- His goal came on a penalty shot. The last Wildcat to make a penalty shot was Vincent de Mey on December 18, 2020, against Michigan Tech.
- Argentina notched his first goal of the season with a power-play goal.
- Schiller recorded his second assist of the season and second point in three games.
- With McClennon’s four goals last night and Peer’s hat-trick tonight, this marked the first time since Chris Connor (3 goals, 10/17/2003) and Colin Murphy (4 goals, 10/18/2003) of Michigan Tech that the Wildcats have allowed back-to-back hat-tricks in a series.
How It Happened
A shot from the point was blocked in the slot before pinballing off shinpads and skates. The bouncing puck danced through shadows before landing onto the stick of Peer, who beat Gramme on the stick-hand side to give the Beavers a one-goal lead on its first shot on goal.
The Wildcats scored a really pretty goal in the opening seconds of the second period, as Altrichter played a centering pass to Argentina down the middle of the ice at the blueline. Argentina outworked his defender to earn himself an abbreviated breakaway, made a move to the forehand, and slid it past the outstretched pad of Robbins.
Moments later, NMU took a penalty, and on the Bemidji man-advantage, Magnussen took a shot that was blocked before getting the rebound back onto his blade. Gramme, who lost his stick from a Beaver skating through the crease, was recovering as Magnussen fired the shot along the ice and through the wickets.
The Beavers added its third goal of the game on a five-on-three man advantage, as Peer found his second goal of the game after finishing off a mad scramble in the crease with one second remaining in the five-on-three.
Just a minute later on the ensuing five-on-four, Altrichter got a breakaway and was taken down from behind, earning himself a penalty shot. The left-shot center came down the right side and made a backhand-forehand move to beat Robbins.
Similar to the ‘Cats in the second period, the Beavers converted on a carryover power play just under a minute into the final frame, as Magnussen let go a one-timer from the point that found its way through traffic.
Down 4-2 with a chance to get back within one, the Wildcats turned the puck over at center ice and Namestnikov rushed down and scored a breakaway to extend the lead to three.
Peer completed the hat-trick with an empty net goal.
Up Next
The Wildcats return home for Thanksgiving weekend, welcoming the Minnesota State Mavericks to the Berry Events Center.
