HOUGHTON, Mich. - Michigan Tech scored three third period goals
to rally from a 1-0 third period deficit to earn a 3-1 WCHA win
over No. 6 Minnesota Duluth in the first game of Winter Carnival
Friday (Feb. 5). Sophomore Brett Olson and junior Eric
Kattelus each scored one goal and one assist to lead the
Huskies.
"We needed a big push in the third and the guys really responded,"
said head coach Jamie Russell. "We came out
and scored a goal and that gave us a big lift."
UMD got on the board first with an even strength goal at 8:07 of
the first period. Junior Rob Bordson poked home a loose puck that
freshman goalie Kevin
Genoe thought he had covered. Sophomore David Grun and
sophomore Scott Kishel recorded assists on the goal.
After a scoreless second period, Tech scored their first goal of
the game on its first shot on the power play. Junior Bennett
Royer tipped a shot by Brett Olson past Duluth
sophomore Kenny Reiter. With the goal, Royer has extended his point
streak to four games (one goal, three assists). Kattelus also
assisted on the goal.
"We really stressed the need to get guys on net to redirect the
initial shots, and we did that. We had to get guys near the net,
and sure enough on that second goal there was Kattelus for tip
in."
Tech wasted no time finding the net on its second goal scoring 23
seconds later. Kattelus poked a loose puck in the crease past
Reiter for his second goal of the season. Senior Drew
Dobson notched his ninth assist of the season on the goal and
junior Jordan Baker tallied his
seventh.
Olson netted his team-leading 16th goal of the season in dramatic
fashion. The Superior, Wis., native flipped the puck from the
defensive zone the length of the ice for an empty net goal with 10
seconds remaining. He has nine points (seven goals, two assists) in
his last nine games.
Tech (5-12-1, 4-17-0) finished the evening 1-4 on the man-advantage
while holding Duluth (17-11-1, 13-7-1) 0-5.
Genoe (4-14-1) finished with 35 saves on 36 shots.
Reiter (9-6-0) ended the evening with 20 saves and two goals
against.
The Huskies will look for its first Winter Carnival title since
2007 when it shoots for the sweep Saturday (Feb.6) against the
Bulldogs.
Note: The last time Tech won when trailing in the third period was
a 3-2 overtime win over Minnesota on Nov. 30, 2007.
