First nine -goal game since February 2016
BEMIDJI, Minn. – Michigan Tech took 4-of-6 CCHA weekend points at Bemidji State, defeating the Beavers 9-5 Saturday at the Sanford Center to remain unbeaten on the road. After trailing 2-0, the Huskies scored all nine goals in the final two periods to improve to 9-5-2 overall and 7-3-2 in the CCHA.
The last time Tech scored nine goals was Feb. 20, 2016, in a 9-2 victory over Bemidji State at the Sanford Center.
“It was a really exciting game and we’re proud of the resilience in our group,” Tech Assistant Coach Raymond Brice said. “We challenged them to score some goals this morning and the young group responded. Not much was said between the first and second. The guys knew what they had to do.”
The Beavers dominated the first, outshooting the Huskies 13-4 and finding the back of the net twice after generating turnovers in their offensive zone. Tech found a spark in the second period.
Jack Works drew the Huskies to within one 2:43 after intermission on the power play, putting in a rebound out front for his third of the season from Isaac Gordon and Stiven Sardarian. It was the 21st goal of his career.
Logan Morrell tied it at two at 11:21 of the second, scoring his third of the weekend. Elias Jansson dug the puck out of the corner and found Morrell wide open in front for a quick one-timer.
BSU (8-8-3, 5-5-2 CCHA) retook its lead 2:32 later when Jackson Jutting scored from Will Magnuson and Mitch Wolfe.
The Huskies tied it again when Stiven Sardarian banged in a loose puck in the slot for his team-leading eighth goal of the season.
The third period got crazy. The Beavers took their lead again 2:25 into the third with a goal by Patrik Satosaari.
The Huskies then scored four straight and six total from that point. Elias Jansson finished off a behind-the-net feed from Stiven Sardarian to knot it at four 43 seconds after the home team took the lead. Chase Pietila added the second assist.
Isaac Gordon gave the Black and Gold their first lead of the night at 5:37 of the third, finishing off a 2-on-1 that went in and bounced out quickly. The officials reviewed the play and Gordon was credited with his second goal of the season and 20th of his career.
Max Koskipirtti made it a 6-4 Michigan Tech lead 24 seconds later when he put in a loose puck in front of the net. Koskipirtti’s fourth of the season and eighth of his career was assisted by Isaac Gordon and Viktor Hurtig.
Logan Morrell scored his second of the night and fourth of the weekend at 14:37 of the third for a three-goal lead. He sniped over the blocker on a partial breakaway from Stiven Sardarian. It was Morrell’s seventh goal of his freshman season.
The Beavers got one back when Jackson Juttiing scored at 15:39, but the Huskies weren’t done.
Elias Jansson scored into the empty net on a breakaway at 16:09. Jansson’s second of the night and third of the season was assisted by Stiven Sardarian and Logan Morrell.
Alex Nordstrom put in a rebound on a shot by Trevor Kukkonen for the ninth goal with 2:45 left in the third. It was Nordstrom’s first of the season and fifth of his career.
Tech led in shots 31-28, outshooting the Beavers 27-15 over the final 40:00. Derek Mullahy had 23 saves for the Huskies and Mattias Sholl stopped 22 shots for the Beavers.
The Huskies were 1-for-3 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.
Tech is off until the 58th annual Great Lakes Invitational on Dec. 29-30 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Huskies will open against No. 6 Western Michigan. No. 3 Michigan State and Northern Michigan faceoff in the second semifinal.
