In what was a one-goal game after 46 minutes of play, the visiting Colorado College Tigers scored four goals over the final 13:14 to come away with a 5-0 win and extend the Michigan Tech Huskies’ losing streak to eight games. The Tigers’ win was highlighted by two goals from freshman center Archie Skalbeck Saturday night at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.
Freshman winger Jaden Schwartz continued his hot start, picking up his 10th goal of the season at 9:18 of the second period. Senior winger Stephen Schultz picked up the lone assist after feeding Schwartz.
“Our depth caught up with us,” said Huskies coach Jamie Russell. “They capitalized on a couple of opportunities.”
For the first 20 minutes, the teams seemed to feel each other out. Both squads had power plays and good scoring chances, but neither Huskies netminder Josh Robinson nor Tigers goaltender Josh Thorimbert was willing to give an inch.
“The goaltending on both ends was actually quite good,” said Tigers coach Scott Owens. “I thought [Thorimbert] played very, very solid.”
The best scoring chance of the period may have come off the stick of Huskies (3-8-2 overall, 1-8-1 WCHA) freshman center Jacob Johnstone, who fired a shot from the right circle that Thorimbert had some trouble handling with 32 seconds left.
The first half of the second period was just like the first period in that neither team could really get much of an advantage on the other. The Huskies had some good scoring chances, but couldn’t really challenge Thorimbert.
The period came to a grinding halt when Huskies winger Alex MacLeod laid a check on a Tigers forward near the penalty box and shattered a pane of plexiglass. After a lengthy delay, the Huskies had some jump, getting the puck in the deep for a long stretch of time before the Tigers could get going.
Trailing 1-0, the Huskies had a couple of quality scoring chances on a power play late in the middle frame, but Thorimbert stopped shots from freshman wingers Milos Gordic and Ryan Furne.
“[Michigan Tech] competed hard,” said Owens. “We were able to methodically keep going; we were able to find a way to get it done in the end.
The Tigers (8-7-1 overall, 5-5-0 WCHA) exploded for four goals in the final period, starting with Schultz putting a rebound behind Robinson at 6:46. Assistant captain Gabe Guentzel and Jaden Schwartz assisted on the goal.
Skalbeck scored the first of his two goals at 7:56 after getting the puck from freshman winger Dakota Eveland. Assistant captain Tyler Johnson also assisted on the goal.
Jaden Schwartz struck again at 11:45 off a pass from Schultz. Jaden’s brother Rylan also assisted on the goal.
Skalbeck’s second goal came on the power play at 14:23 off a pass from Eveland. Johnson also assisted on the tally.
Robinson made 44 saves in the loss for the Huskies. Thorimbert made 36 to earn his first career shutout.
“Josh [Robinson] played really well,” said Russell. “I am very happy with his performance.”
