HOUGHTON, Mich. — Coming into Friday night’s game with No. 17 Michigan Tech, Alaska-Anchorage was 6-0-2 this season when leading after one period of play.
That record was in jeopardy as the Huskies carried a 2-1 lead into the final frame, but two goals seven minutes apart preserved the Seawolves’ early-season run with a 3-2 victory at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.
Freshman Sean MacTavish picked up his first two career goals in the win as well.
After a faceoff at center ice was won by the Seawolves, Blake Tatchell fed the puck to Tad Kozun, who skated the puck into the offensive zone along the right-wing boards and fired a long wrist shot that beat Huskies goaltender Jamie Phillips just under the crossbar with 1:21 remaining in regulation for what stood as the game-winning goal.
“I thought we came out well to start the game,” said Seawolves coach Matt Thomas. “I thought we got sloppy at times in the game. We allowed Tech to get their legs underneath them. The hardest thing to do in this league in get points on the road. For us, it has been a struggle. I liked the way we finished.”
Much like the way the Huskies kept Alaska from finding time and space last Friday, the Seawolves (7-6-2 overall, 4-4-1 WCHA) did the same to MTU, keeping the host frustrated in the early going.
“You could tell we were a little off tonight,” said Michigan Tech coach Mel Pearson. “We had some great, great opportunities. We couldn’t bury some of the chances we had. It’s unfortunate that we have a lead going into the third, but a couple of breaks … If you don’t bring your ‘A’ game, a lot of nights you are going to end up on the wrong side of the score.”
On their first shot of the game at 5:41, the Seawolves took the lead. MacTavish took a pass at the left point from Chris Williams. MacTavish fired a long slap shot that bounced off a Huskies’ defender and past Phillips.
After failing to get a quality scoring chance on their first power play of the night, the Huskies got one shortly after when Tyler Heinonen cut to the net from the right side of the slot. His shot was stopped by Olivier Mantha.
After C.J. Eick served a penalty for interference, he came out of the box and shortly after, took a lead pass. He drove the puck around UAA defender Austin Sevalrud, but his shot was stopped by Mantha. Heinonen had a similar chance seconds later, but was also stopped.
With two and a half minutes left in the period, Mark Auk cut to the slot. His backhand shot beat Mantha, but not the crossbar. A minute later, Malcolm Gould had a quality shot from the left circle, but also hit a post.
The Huskies (9-5-1 overall, 8-5-0 WCHA) had a good scoring chance just seconds into the middle frame when Mike Neville got loose behind the Seawolves’ defense, but his shot was turned aside.
Just under five minutes later, Tatchell wired a shot from the high slot, but Phillips made the save with his glove. Then about 30 seconds later, the Huskies had a pair of chances the other way as Jake Lucchini and Brent Baltus both had swings at the puck. Baltus fed Lucchini for the first shot. Baltus attempted to knock the rebound home, but missed the puck.
Michigan Tech tied the game at 8:25 when co-captain Alex Petan got loose. Petan took a pass from fellow co-captain Cliff Watson at the left point, cut across the slot, and fired a shot back the way he came, beating Mantha.
“I thought we played a really good game as a team,” said Petan. “Obviously, it is hard to swallow what happened, but overall I think we had a lot of positives. We have to focus on those and clean up some things.”
Looking for more, the Huskies struck again just under four minutes later.
Eick missed a check at center ice, but Joel L’Esperance did not. After separating then man from the puck, L’Esperance found Heinonen lurking in the middle of the rink. Heinonen skated in alone and beat Mantha with a quick wrister at 12:21.
With the goal, the reigning WCHA Player of the Month extended his point-scoring streak to six games, a new career-high.
The Huskies had chances to extend their lead before the period ended. Heinonen and Chris Leibinger skated in on a two-on-one, but Heinonen could not quite sneak a pass through. The Huskies had another two-on-one later involving Alex Gillies and Eick. Gillies slid the puck to Eick, but Eick just missed connecting on a one-timer.
Neither team could get much offense going in the third until Alaska-Anchorage’s Brad Duwe took a pass in the slot and fired a shot at Phillips with 8:20 remaining in regulation.
Looking to tie the game, the Seawolves kept the pressure on created by that previous chance, and they were rewarded at 11:49 when MacTavish tipped a shot from Jarrett Brown at the left point past Phillips.
The Huskies had a quality scoring chance with 6:35 left when Patrick Anderson attempted a wraparound. The play was reviewed to make certain Mantha stopped the puck.
