HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech hockey team earned a non-conference sweep of Alaska after a 2-1 victory over Alaska on Saturday at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The Huskies scored a pair of first-period goals and held on for their third straight win over the Nanooks.
 
"I think our effort was good tonight but our decision-making wasn't very good," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "We had a lot of turnovers and working on our conditioning in this off week will help address that. I like the win, but we have a lot of work to do."
 
Similar to Friday night, the Huskies found the back of the net early. Stiven Sardarian fired in a shot through traffic from the slot after a perfect backhanded centering pass from Isaac Gordon 3:30 into the game.
 
"It was an important goal," Sardarian said. "It was a tough game and close game so of course I was happy to score and help the team win."
 
Chase Pietila added to the lead at 16:30 of the first period when he ripped in a one-timer on the power play. Jack Works and Stiven Sardarian worked the puck over on Pietila's fourth career goal.
 
UAF (0-4) got to within one with 1:31 remaining in the first when Chase Dafoe cleaned up a rebound in front of the net after a shot by Matt Rickard was saved. Carson Reed also assisted on the lone goal of the Nanooks.
 
Alaska outshot the Huskies 21-9 over the final 40:00, including a 12-4 advantage in the third period. The visitors pulled the goaltender with 1:35 remaining but only got one shot on goal. Max Vayrynen made a career-high 29 saves in his fourth career win.
 
"Max was on top of it tonight," added Shawhan. "We needed a big-time performance and he delivered."
 
The Huskies were 1-for-2 on the power play and 1-for-1 on the penalty kill.
 
Tech has next weekend off before hosting Clarkson on Oct. 25-26 for another non-conference series at home. It will also be Hall of Fame weekend with former players John Scott and Shawn Harrison getting inducted along with public address announcer Mitch Lake.