Hancock grad Nordstrom scores twice for Huskies
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Michigan Tech and Augustana skated to a 4-4 tie on Saturday at Midco Arena. The Huskies earned the extra CCHA point with a 2-0 shootout win after overtime.
“It was a great response by our guys after last night. We wanted to establish a forecheck and simplify our game,” Tech assistant coach Jordy Murray said. “We got away from it a little after we got the lead, but it was important to come away with two points tonight.”
The tie snapped the Viking’s six-game CCHA home winning streak. The Huskies are now 15-12-3 overall and 11-8-3 in the CCHA and remain in fourth-place in the conference standings.
Tech jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first period with Alex Nordstrom scoring the first two. Rylan Brown zipped a backhanded pass from the boards behind the net to Nordstrom out front for a quick flip over the goalie 1:18 into the game. Kasper Vaharautio also assisted on the goal.
Alex Nordstrom picked up his third career two-goal game 71 seconds later when he redirected in a long shot by Viktor Hurtig for his fourth goal of the season and eighth of his career. Rylan Brown added the second assist for his seventh helper of the last four games.
Philip Fankl scored his first NCAA goal on a quick snapshot after Blais Richartz created a turnover and sent Fankl in on a partial breakaway 6:00 into the first period.
Augustana (17-9-4, 9-5-2 CCHA) then scored three straight goals of its own to tie it up. The Vikings created a turnover in their offensive zone, and Payton Matsui scored on a breakaway from Brett Meerman with 5:49 left in the first period.
The Vikings made it a one-goal game 43 seconds into the second with a power-play goal by Colton Friesen. Hayden Hennen and Payton Matsui tallied assists.
The home team tied the game at 8:05 of the second period with a sharp-angled shot near the goal line off the stick of Brett Meerman. Simon Falk and Easton Young assisted on the play.
Chase Pietila scored his second of the weekend and seventh of the season to put the Huskies up 4-3 11:05 into the second period. Max Koskipirtti dug the puck out of the corner and fed Pietila in the slot for a wrist shot past the goalie’s glove. Elias Jansson added an assist.
Nace Langus tied the game with the only goal of the third period with 7:15 left in regulation. He tipped in a pass by Evan McIntyre with Luke Mobley also assisting.
A Logan Morrell wraparound and Chase Pietila chip in front of the net were the best scoring chances in overtime.
Isaac Gordon opened the shootout with a goal under the goalie’s blocker. Dereky Mullahy made a save on Tyler Hennen. Max Koskipirtti’s chance was saved. Luke Mobley fired his shot over the net, and then Marcus Pedersen ripped it over the goaltender’s glove on his chance to seal it.
Augustana led in shots 29-28. Derek Mullahy made 25 saves in his 18th start of the season. Josh Kotai made two saves and was chased after the first three Tech goals. Christian Manz finished the game for the Vikings and stopped 22 shots.
Tech wraps up its regular season home schedule next weekend, hosting Ferris State at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The Huskies will honor their senior class after Saturday’s game.
