Muckalt’s first win as Tech Head Coach
MINNEAPOLIS – Michigan Tech earned a non-conference weekend split with No. 8 Minnesota after dispatching the Gophers 5-3 on Saturday at 3M Arena at Mariucci. The Huskies came back from a 3-1 first-period deficit to earn their first win of the season and the first Michigan Tech victory for Head Coach Bill Muckalt.
“I’m really proud of the bounce back. It was a great team effort against a quality opponent in a great environment,” Muckalt said. “We played with more urgency tonight and were able to clean some things up from last night.”
The game was following a similar script as Friday with a one-goal deficit at the first intermission, a dominant second period by Tech, and a lead heading into the third. This time, the Huskies buckled down and didn’t allow the Gophers to tie it.
Owen Bartoszkiewicz made key saves in the third period, making five of his 13 saves in the final frame. He flashed the leather early in the period on the penalty kill to keep the Huskies in front.
Minnesota added the extra attacker with 1:44 left in the third. Noah Reinhart blocked the one shot the Gophers took and converted it into an empty-net chance that he scored on for the final tally. Stiven Sardarian assisted on the final goal, his third of the night.
“I love Stiven’s play-making ability,” Muckalt said. “He’s a special player. He’s buying in to what we’re selling, and I have a lot of trust in him. He was frustrated in the second but stuck to it and ended up with three assists.”
Minnesota (1-1) took the lead 90 seconds into the game when Brody Lamb lit the lamp.
The Huskies tied it 7:01 later when Tyler Miller ripped in a sharp-angled shot for his first career goal. Matthew Van Blaricom assisted on the goal.
The Gophers added a pair before the period was over. Erik Pahlsson gave the home team its lead back at 9:37, and then LJ Mooney made it a two-goal game 4:10 later.
Tech wouldn’t go away. Luca Fasciano took a long wrist shot through traffic that found the back of the net with 4:51 left in the first period. Isaac Gordon and Teydon Trembecky had the assists.
The Huskies put on a clinic in the second, outshooting the Gophers 16-4 and controlling position throughout. At one point, they had zone time that extended over 4:00 before finding two quick goals.
Minnesota was called for a faceoff violation, and the power play unit went to work. Stiven Sardarian and Reid Andresen worked the puck over to Teydon Trembecky for a blast of a one-timer with 2:29 left in the second. The puck went in and out so fast that the officials initially waved it off but overturned their call after a review.
Max Koskipirtti scored the eventual game-winner only 53 seconds later with a quick wrist shot in the slot. Stiven Sardarian and Joe Prouty assisted on Koskipirtti’s 12th career goal.
Tech led in shots 33-13. Luca Di Pasquo had 28 saves for the Gophers. Playing against his former team, Owen Bartoszkiewicz earned his first win as a Husky.
The Huskies were 1-for-3 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.
Tech has the weekend off before another non-conference road trip to Alaska on Oct. 17-18.
