HOUGHTON, Mich. — A goal 22 seconds in from an unlikely source and a record-breaking performance by goaltender Jamie Phillips was enough for No. 20 Michigan Tech to knock off No. 15 Bowling Green 2-0 on Friday night at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena.
Phillips set a school record for career shutouts (eight) with his 22-save night.
“That’s not on me, that’s on the great team in front of me,” said Phillips. “It feels good to have that, but it is a team accomplishment.”
Just after the opening faceoff, the Huskies had a scoring chance when Malcolm Gould fed the puck to co-captain Alex Petan, who skated in on a one-on-one and fired a shot that Chris Nell had trouble handling. The puck was guided back to co-captain Cliff Watson, who buried a wrist shot from the left point just 22 seconds in.
The Huskies were awarded a power play as things settled down from the goal and the best chance they had came off a cross-ice pass to Petan, who fired a quick shot, but was stopped.
Shortly after the advantage, the Huskies has another good scoring chance when Gould fed the puck to Tyler Heinonen, but his one-timer just missed the net.
Just under two minutes later, Alex Gillies took a pass from Mason Blacklock. With an open goal to shoot at, Gillies just missed to the short side.
About a minute later, the Huskies (6-3-0 overall, 6-3-0 WCHA) had another good chance when Gould, Petan and Watson skated in on a three-on-two. Gould fired the initial shot. The rebound bounced to Watson, who attempted to bury a backhand, but was stopped.
The line of Gould, Petan and Mike Neville kept the pressure on with a solid cycle, eventually turning the puck over as they skated for a line change. Right after, Brent Baltus took a lead pass, skated around a Falcons’ defender, but was stopped when he tried a quick deke.
“I really liked our start,” said MTU coach Mel Pearson. “I thought the guys did a fabulous job of being ready tonight.”
The Falcons (4-3-3 overall, 1-2-2 WCHA) finished the period with three straight power plays, but few scoring chances. The best chance Bowling Green had on the advantages came off the stick of Mark Cooper.
Cooper got the puck at the left point, skated to the middle and wired a slap shot that beat Phillips. Fortunately for the Huskies, Cooper did not beat the right post.
“We are struggling to find our game right now,” said Falcons coach Chris Bergeron. “I think the power play is just indicative of where our team is at. It’s just not quite right.”
The Falcons started the second period with more energy than they had the first. However, despite nearly five minutes of puck possession, the Falcons got only two shots to Phillips.
Six and a half minutes into the period, Dajon Mingo lined up Petan for an open-ice check. Mingo missed and ran into two teammates, setting up a three-on-one for the Huskies. Petan fed the puck to Matt Roy, but his one-timer was snatched up by Nell, who finished the night with 39 saves.
Ben Murphy had a nice scoring chance a minute later for the Falcons when John Schilling passed him the puck in the high slot. Murphy fired a shot through traffic that Phillips stopped.
A minute later, Petan lost a faceoff, but won a battle for the loose puck and had himself a scoring chance from right in front of the net.
Three minutes after that the Falcons had another good scoring chance when Brandon Hawkins took a pass in the slot. Phillips tracked him well to make the save.
Late in the period, Joel L’Esperance made a quick move in the offensive zone and fired a shot that Nell stopped. At the other end of the rink, Cooper had two chances in close to Phillips’ crease, but could not bury either chance.
Two and a half minutes into the third, the Huskies had a scoring chance when L’Esperance fought off a Falcons’ defender and fed the puck to Jake Jackson. Jackson’s one-timer was stopped by Nell.
Half a minute later, Neville got loose in the slot, took a pass, attempted a deke, but was stopped. Neville had another chance two minutes later, but his shot from the high slot was also stopped by Nell.
The Huskies killed off a penalty to Shane Hanna, but nearly surrendered a goal to Murphy who slid a shot under Phillips who lost sight and eventually control of the puck.
Michigan Tech was awarded a late power play and extended the lead.
Jake Lucchini entered the before getting upended, but he managed to get the puck deep. Reid Sturos got the puck back to Chris Leibinger, who fed it over to Roy. Roy fired a long shot through traffic to beat Nell at 16:44.
The Falcons pulled Nell for the final 1:42, but no matter what they attempted to throw Phillips’ way, he saw and stopped to preserve the shutout.
