Box Score HOUGHTON, Mich. – Alaska twice led against No. 10 Michigan Tech, but it was the host Huskies who prevailed, 3-2, in the two team's Western Collegiate Hockey Association season finale on Saturday.
The Nanooks led the Huskies, 2-1, after the first period thanks to goals from Tyler Morley and Austin Vieth. But Michigan Tech scored a goal one goal in each of the last two periods to claim the victory.
Alaska slips below the .500 mark as it now sits at 12-13-1 overall and 7-12-1 in the WCHA while Michigan Tech improves to 18-7-1 on the season and 13-4-1 in the league.
Special teams were again a major factor in the game, as Alaska's power play continued its recent success, yielding the game's first goal through T. Morley. At 10:28 of the first period, Garrick Perry fed Colton Parayko who delayed his shot so he could force it through traffic in front. Michigan Tech's Jamie Phillips stopped that initial shot, but T. Morley grabbed the rebound and fired it into the roof of the net to give Alaska the advantage.
Michigan Tech's Chris Leibinger tied things up with three minutes left in the opening frame, as he sniped a shot over Sean Cahill's blocker from just outside the faceoff circle. The game looked to remain tied at the break following that goal, but Austin Vieth was able to force a Nanook second goal home with just 54 seconds remaining.
Midway through the second period, the Huskies tied the game again, as Blake Pietila scored a power play goal. Michigan Tech looked the likelier of the two teams to find the next goal in the period, but Cahill made 10 of 11 saves in a busy frame.
Unfortunately for the Nanooks it was Michigan Tech's Tanner Kero who would net the eventual game-winner at 12:38 of the third period. Alaska would press for an equalizer, but replacement goalie Matt Wintjes stopped all 11 (and all five in the second) to preserve the win.
Overall the Huskies outshot the Nanooks 30-27, as Cahill made 27 saves in the loss.
Alaska, who has now lost four in a row and has not won in its last six games, is idle from competition until February 6-7 when it opens up a four game home stand with a two-game series against Lake Superior State. The following weekend, the Nanooks host now No. 1 Minnesota State.
