Jansson scores twice for Huskies; Slipec has two goals for Wildcats
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The NMU hockey team dropped a 3-2 decision to the Michigan Tech Huskies from Houghton on Friday night.
The Wildcats (4-20-1, 3-13-1 CCHA) got a pair of goals from Grayden Slipec (6-6–12), who has found a goal-scoring touch against the Huskies early in his collegiate career; the freshman has five goals and six points in four games against Michigan Tech this season. With the tallies tonight, Slipec extends his point streak to four games, and now has four goals and five points in his last four games.
Fellow freshman linemate Jakub Altrichter (3-11–14) picked up a pair of assists on the evening to extend his team lead in points. Altrichter is now riding a three-game point streak (3-3–6), and has nine points in his last six games (3-6–9).
Netminder Ryan Ouellette made 33 saves on the evening, including 16 in the first period for a .917 SV%. Both Nicolas Ardanaz (0-3–3) and Aidyn Hutchinson (3-6–9) picked up assists.
The Huskies (14-9-2, 10-5-2 CCHA) got a pair of power-play goals from Elias Jansson and a two-point night from Isaac Gordon with a goal and assist. Ryan Manzella made 18 saves.
Down 2-0 halfway through the second period, the ‘Cats clawed back with a goal in the second and third to tie the game and were controlling play with all the momentum on their side late into the third period.
An NMU player caught an edge and fell face-first into a Husky against the end wall, and the ‘Cats were whistled for penalty minutes after tying the game. The Huskies took advantage of the opportunity, scoring the eventual game-winner on the power play.
Special teams played a big part in the game, as the Huskies scored a pair of goals from three opportunities on the man advantage, while the ‘Cats only had one look on the power play early in the first period.
NMU now looks to earn the weekend split at home, hosting the Huskies at the Berry Events Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:07 p.m. ET.
How It Happened
The ‘Cats were awarded the game’s first man advantage five minutes into the contest. Ouellette had to make a sharp save on a short-handed breakaway from the Huskies, but otherwise, the ‘Cats were unable to get set up in the offensive zone.
The Huskies broke through first late in the first period. Ouellette made the initial save off a one-timer before making the follow-up save with the right pad. The rebound deflected off a skate before landing on the stick of Gordon who fought through the tie-up and was able to shovel the rebound home.
The second period got underway with some four-on-four play followed by the ‘Cats being penalized halfway through the middle frame. Ouellette made multiple big saves as the ‘Cats almost killed off the minor, but a goal with four seconds left on the man advantage doubled up the Husky’s lead.
The ‘Cats would respond just three minutes later, as Altrichter walked in on his defender before making a slick drop pass to Slipec atop the left faceoff dot. Slipec toe-dragged around his defender before pulling the puck into his body and firing a wicked wrister under the glove hand and over the pad on the far side.
The ‘Cats were called for a questionable penalty a handful of minutes into the third period but did an excellent job in killing off the Husky man advantage. As the penalty expired, Hutchinson came out of the box and caught the Husky defender off guard, knocking down the defender to spring Altrichter and Slipec on a two-on-one. Altrichter walked in down the left side, faked a shot, then slid a pass to Slipec who had a wide-open net to bury his second of the night.
Hutchinson caught an edge and went into the boards with a Husky forward, and the ‘Cats were shorthanded again. Just 30 seconds into the kill the ‘Cats got a great chance, and it was Altrichter and Slipec again. On short-handed two-on-one, Altrichter walked in on the right side and fired a no-look shot to Manzella’s glove hand, who had to make a ten-bell glove save.
On the same man advantage, a one-timer from the left faceoff dot was saved by Ouellette, but it was the third shot on net that found its way home and the Huskies were ahead.
The ‘Cats would pull the netminder with just over two minutes to play in an effort to tie the game. The ‘Cats were able to create chances and get pucks toward the net, but ultimately came up just short, and the Huskies take home a 3-2 win.
