It’s funny how it goes. Michigan Tech played much better tonight than it did in last night’s 7-3 victory over Vermont, but the Huskies had to settle for a 2-2 overtime tie before 2,577 at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.
Michigan Tech outshot the Catamounts, 51-24, including a 20-2 margin in the third period and overtime.
“I thought we played very well,” said Michigan Tech head coach Jamie Russell. “Our effort was good and we were relentless. Give their goaltender credit. He played well.”
Brady Leisenring staked the visitors to a 1-0 lead at 12:25 of the opening period, but red-hot Colin Murphy made a nifty move through traffic in front and tucked the puck behind goaltender Travis Russell to even the game just 1:16 later.
Vermont got the only goal of the middle period despite getting outshot 14-8. It came on the power play off the stick of Jeff Corey at 11:15.
It stayed that way until the second half of the third period. With Vermont already down a man, the Catamouts’ Art Femenella slashed Tech’s Brett Engelhardt to give MTU a two-man advantage. With that two-man advantage, sophomore Taggart Desmet put one in from out in front to pick up his fifth point of the weekend and even the game. The goal came at 12:57. MTU had sustained pressure on the Catamounts the rest of the way, but did not get another one by Russell.
Junior Cam Ellsworth made 22 saves in the MTU net, while Russell had 49 stops for Vermont.
Michigan Tech, now 2-2-2 on the season, plays it first WCHA home series of the season this coming Friday and Saturday when it hosts the Wisconsin Badgers. Vermont starts ECAC play next weekend hosting Harvard and Brown.
