Max Koskipirtti scores game-winner in overtime
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Max Koskipirtti scored his fourth game-winning goal of the season 2:32 into overtime to lift No. 20 Michigan Tech to a Winter Carnival win over No. 16 Augustana Friday at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. With the win, the Huskies improved to 19-10-2 overall and are now tied with the Vikings for second in the CCHA with a 13-5-2 record.
“We beat a quality opponent who is well-coached. They are very committed to their defensive system and have a really good goaltender,” Tech coach Bill Muckalt said. “I thought we played well tonight, and I especially loved our third period.
“A lot of guys stepped up with some guys out with the flu bug. Koski has scored some big goals for us this year and again stepped up when we needed him.”
Tech jumped out to the lead only 53 seconds into the game when Tom Leppa scored on a screen provided by Tyler Miller. Matthew Van Blaricom assisted on Leppa’s fifth of the season and seventh of his career.
The Vikings quickly tied it up at 3:47 of the first with a power-play goal by Leonid Bulgakov from Brett Meerman and Colton Friesen.
Augustan scored a go-ahead goal with 3:28 left in the second period when Colton Friesen scored after a backdoor pass from Owen Bohn.
Josh Kotai made a number of huge saves early in the third period to hold on to the one-goal lead. The Huskies finally found the equalizer with 4:03 left in regulation when Carson Latimer fed Jack Anderson out front. Anderson ripped in his seventh of the season and 11th of his career.
In overtime, Max Koskipirtti carried the puck into the zone and fired a wrist shot that Kotai couldn’t corral to get the 3,835 fans on their feet. Brayden Boehm and Carson Birnie assisted on the goal. Augustana challenged the play for offsides but the goal stood.
Tech dominated in shots 39-20, including a 17-5 advantage in the third period. Owen Bartoszkiewicz won his nation-leading 19th game of the season and 30th of his career, making 18 saves. Kotai stopped 36 shots for the visitors.
Michigan Tech had a moment of celebration before the game in honor of Jerry MacInnes, who passed away last week at the age of 99.
The teams wrap up their only meeting of the season at 5:07 p.m. on Saturday. The MacInnes Trophy will be awarded after the game in the total goal series, and a weekend MVP will be named.
