HOUGHTON, Mich. — In what quickly became the longest game in No. 4 Michigan Tech’s school history, the Huskies needed nearly three full overtimes to skate away from the MacInnes Student Ice Arena and their first home playoff game with a 1-0 win over Alabama-Huntsville.
What remained of the 3,038 in attendance lept to their feet when Tyler Heinonen pounced on a rebound off a shot from Mark Auk. He showed patience moving to a better scoring angle before hitting the net at 18:49 of that third extra session.
“That was just a great battle by our team,” said Heinonen. “I thought we played a solid game.”
Carmine Guerriero was almost single-handedly the best player on the ice all night, making 76 saves in what was the second-longest game in WCHA history.
In a game that felt more like a heavyweight prize fight than a hockey game, the Huskies held an 11-2 advantage in shots after the first 20 minutes of play, but both teams had good opportunities.
The Huskies had a great chance about 30 seconds in when Reid Sturos fed the puck out front to co-captain Blake Pietila, who ripped a quick shot, but Guerriero was there to get a piece of the puck.
“I give Alabama-Huntsville a lot of credit,” said Huskies’ coach Mel Pearson. “We couldn’t score. I thought their goaltender was outstanding. I thought we were a little off tonight.”
Five minutes later, the Huskies had good shot from the slot when Dylan Steman entered the offensive zone and cut at the right faceoff dot towards the slot. Guerriero tracked his movement, however, and made the save.
About halfway through the period, Cody Champagne fired a shot that Huskies’ goaltender Jamie Phillips blocked with his leg. The rebound kicked to Brennan Saulnier who was on Phillips’ left. Saulnier’s shot was gloved by Phillips.
“We took our punches,” said Chargers’ coach Mike Corbett. “We were playing exactly how we felt we needed to play to be able to win it.”
The Huskies (27-8-2 overall) jumped out to 4-1 advantage in shots during the first few minutes of the second, but Guerriero stood his ground.
A little over five minutes in, the teams were whistled for matching minors. During the ensuing four-on-four action, the Chargers had a nice scoring chance when Frank Misuaraca fired a shot from the left point into the slot. Saulnier tipped the shot, but the puck skittered just wide of the net.
Midway through the middle frame, the Huskies began to take control of the contest, forcing three straight penalties to the Chargers (8-25-4 overall). Despite the advantages, the Huskies could not find the back of the net. It was not for lack of shots.
Co-captain Tanner Kero appeared to give the Huskies the lead when he knocked home a rebound off the initial shot from Malcolm Gould at 15:13, but the goal was called back as the referees lost sight of the puck and blew the whistle before the shot was fired.
Off the ensuing faceoff, Shane Hanna ripped a shot that Guerriero stopped. A few seconds later, Guerriero was at it again, stopping Pietila in the slot.
Pietila was sprung four minutes into the third, but his long wrist shot was stopped by Guerriero. Three minutes later, Pietila was loose again, firing awrist shot that beat Guerriero through the wickets, but bounces wide of the right post.
The Chargers a were awarded 38 seconds of five-on-three power play time and nearly found the twine when a shot from the left point kicked off the backboards right out into the slot. Jeff Vanderlugt fired the rebound, but Phillips made the save with his right leg. Just prior to that play, the Chargers got Phillips out of position, but could not beat both him and Cliff Watson, who blocked the point-blank shot.
Phillips finished the night with 32 saves for his team-record fifth shutout of the season.
“Obviously, it’s a big relief,” said Phillips. “I’ve never been part of a game like this.”
The Huskies came out like a team determined to score in the first overtime. Pietila had a chance just 20 seconds in, but his shot was blockered away. Pietila had another chance from the slot, but was stopped by Guerriero.
Sturos had a shot from the left circle that Guerriero stopped. Steman got to the net and took a pass from C.J. Eick below the goal line, but his one-timer was stopped.
Kero had a pair of shots in close with Brent Baltus getting one in between, but again Guerriero was positioned well to make the saves.
L’Eperance was set up for a breakaway. He fired a wrist shot, got his own rebound, and got his own rebound a second time, but could not beat Guerriero.
The Huskies were awarded a five-minute major power play when Saulnier drilled Alex Petan from behind in the left corner of the offensive zone. Kero made two nice moves to get the net, only to have his wrister stopped in the last good chance the Huskies had in the first overtime.
In all, Guerriero made 18 saves in the first overtime. He added 14 more in the second overtime and 10 more in third.
In the second overtime, the Huskies had several more chances.
Steman hit the crossbar on their best scoring chance. Baltus had a great chance late in the period after Petan’s shot was stopped. The rebound kicked to Baltus, who spun and shot, but his shot went just wide of the net.
The previous longest game in Michigan Tech history came in 1979 against Michigan in the Great Lakes Invitational. The Huskies won in three overtimes, of the 10-minute variety, when Pearson scored the game-winner 2:28 into the that third session.
