Beavers win shootout
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech remained unbeaten on the road with a 2-2 tie at Bemidji State on Friday. Logan Morrell scored twice, including the late game-tying goal with the extra attacker. The Beavers took the extra CCHA point with a shootout win.
“It was a difficult game but our special teams came through, and we were able to come out with a point on the road against a good Bemidji State team,” Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. “We have one game left before the break, so we need to clean some things up and finish the first half of the schedule strong.”
The Beavers (8-7-3, 5-4-2 CCHA) took the 2-1 lead 2:26 into the third period with a long shot through traffic off the stick of Mitch Wolfe.
Coach Shawhan pulled goaltender Derek Mullahy for the extra attacker with 2:22 left. The Beavers had a couple of chances at the open net, but Tech got control in the offensive zone and went to work. Stiven Sardarian found Logan Morrell wide open at the side of the net with clear passing lane. Morrell hammered in the one-timer to tie it up with 39.7 seconds left. Chase Pietila added the secondary assist.
Tech (8-5-2, 6-3-2 CCHA) had a pair of great chances in the overtime. Max Koskipirtti and Stiven Sardarian had an early 2-on-1 and the puck somehow stayed out. Logan Morrell was looking for the hat trick later in the frame on a quick breakaway, but his shot hit the catcher glove of the goaltender and bounced wide.
Lauri Raiman, Isaac Gordon, and Max Koskipirtti had their chances saved in the shootout. Derek Mullahy made the first two saves before Adam Flammang scored.
Logan Morrell opened scoring 15:44 into the game with his third power-play goal of the season and his fourth overall. Isaac Gordon had a fake one-time shot that turned into a pass to the front to Morrell with Nick Williams adding the second assist.
The Huskies dominated the early part of the second period, but it was the Beavers finding the back of the net and tying it up 5:45 after intermission. Jaksen Panzer scored on a 2-on-1 from Adam Flammang and Austin Jouppi.
The Beavers had a 35-28 shots advantage in the game. Derek Mullahy made 30 saves and Mattias Sholl stopped 23 shots on the other side. The Beavers also blocked 24 shots in front of their goaltender.
With only three minor penalties, Tech was a perfect 1-for-1 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.
The Huskies and Beavers will wrap up the final CCHA series of 2024 at 7:07 p.m. Eastern on Saturday back at the Sanford Center.
