Box Score HOUGHTON, Mich. - Alaska had a two goal lead in the third period, but No. 10 nationally ranked Michigan Tech came storming back to defeat the Nanooks, 4-3 in overtime on Friday night at the John J. MaCinnes Student Ice Arena.
Blake Pietila found the back of the net for the host Huskies (17-7-1, 12-4-1 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) 3:46 into the overtime period. The Nanooks (12-12-1, 7-11-1) had two excellent chances to win the game just prior to the Michigan Tech goal, but were unable to get shots through the sea of bodies in front as the Husky defense threw themselves in the way of every chance. Michigan Tech then rushed the length of the ice and generated a chance for Pietila to score on a one-timer from the high slot.
"We have had a tough stretch of games since the Ferris State series," said head coach Dallas Ferguson. "We competed well against good teams, and have given ourselves chances to win games, but have come up short. It's been frustrating for the group. The lesson we need to take from these games is that we need to stay focused and play the game the right way, regardless of the score."
Alaska has now gone to overtime in at least one game against its last three ranked opponents and is 1-1-1 over that span.
After a scoreless first period, dominated by solid goaltending from Davis Jones, who made 11 saves and Jamie Phillips, who made six, the Huskies took the lead seven minutes into the second period with a goal by Joel L'Esperance. L'Esperance crashed the net to complete a crisp give-and-go with Patrick Anderson to give Michigan Tech a 1-0 lead.
Alaska was not behind for long, however, as just two minutes later Garrick Perry scored a power play goal to tie the game at one. Perry took a pass from Tyler Morley and tried to jam it under the pad of Phillips. After his initial shot would not go, he roofed the rebound to knot the game up.
The score would remain tied until early in the third period, when the Nanooks struck again on the power play. Tyler Morley won a faceoff in Michigan Tech's zone and quickly scored thanks to a quick pass from Marcus Basara.
Ferguson was pleased by the Nanooks offensive special teams, saying, "the power play got us two goals tonight, which was encouraging. We had not been capitalzing on those chances lately, so it was great to see it generate goals."Alaska, who had struggled on the power play heading into the game, was 2-for-4 with the man advantage.
Nolan Youngmun doubled Alaska's lead five minutes later, as he finished off a move started by Colton Sparrow and Jared Linnell. Youngmun's goal came at the 7:14 mark and put the No. 10 Huskies on the ropes.
Unfortunately for Alaska two quick-fire goals for Michigan Tech tied things up late in the third period. Alex Petan scored on the power play with seven minutes to play before L'Esperance tallied his second of the game less than a minute later, after a Nanook turnover deep in their zone.
Both teams had several chances in the remaining minutes, and Alaska had an abbreviated power play with a minute to go in regulation, but it remained tied as time expired.
Jones made 27 save for the Nanooks, as the Huskies outshot Alaska 31-28 on the night.
"But for three plays tonight I thought we played some solid road hockey," said Ferguson. "We will reset ourselves now and start preparing ourselves for success tomorrow night."
The Nanooks, who have taken at least a point from every ranked opponent they have played this season, will look for redemption against Michigan Tech tomorrow. The opening faceoff is set for 3:07 p.m. AKT.
