Many were wondering when the hot streak would end for the dominant Michigan Tech Huskies, if it would at all.
Two weekends ago, the Mavericks of Minnesota State ended the streak on Friday with a 2-1 victory over the Huskies. Tech had a 1-0 lead that came from an Alex Petan goal in the second period. That lead would last until halfway into the third period when MSU scored, and only 24 seconds later they would strike home the game-winner.
The story of Saturday night’s game was more of the same. Tech again held a 1-0 lead that they would never regain once the Mavericks got on the board. Goals came from Alex Petan once again and then on the power play from Malcom Gould late in the third. That’s all that the Huskies could show for their efforts, as they went down for a second straight game in a 3-2 loss.
As a result of the two losses, Tech dropped to No. 5 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll and to No. 6 in the USCHO poll.
Although many of the Huskies’ fans are upset at the ending of the streak, the losses came from a very good Minnesota State team. The Mavericks were always battling back and forth last year with Ferris State for the number one spot in the WCHA, were consistently ranked in the USCHO poll and were picked this year to win the WCHA. Often overshadowed by the likes of bigger schools in the state like Minnesota and Minnesota Duluth, the Mavericks are undoubtedly a force in NCAA Division I hockey.
Jamie Phillips performed well throughout the weekend and again gave the Huskies team in front of him a chance to win. He came up big in many situations, but it wasn’t enough to carry the team to victory.
Michigan Tech missed on all three power play opportunities they had in Friday’s game and connected with one out of six chances on Saturday. Scoring consistency with the man-advantage is something Tech is working on, and when that consistency improves, the team will be even less likely to lose games.
Although the consistency on the man-advantage came in the form of not converting while on the power play, as the Huskies went 0-10 all weekend against the Chargers, the Huskies more than doubled their shots each night and came away with the sweep.
Friday’s game in Alabama saw goals from Dylan Steman and Alex Gillies in the first period, Shane Hanna with the game winner in the second and the empty netter by Cliff Watson late in the third, leading to a final score of 4-2. The Huskies outshot UAH 34-14 throughout the game, a trend now common for this Tech Hockey team which has shown to consistently beat their opponents in possession.
Saturday’s game was much of the same story with goals from Tanner Kero, Walker Hyland, Alex Petan, Malcom Gould and Blake Hietala in a 5-2 victory. The Huskies outshot Alabama Huntsville 37-15 that night, improving their record to 12-2-0.
After roughly 2000 miles of driving across the country and back, the team will have a few days off, as well as a weekend bye. They will be preparing for the arrival of Minnesota Duluth when they host the Bulldogs for an inter-conference series on Dec. 12 and 13.