MARQUETTE, Mich. -  The Northern Michigan University hockey team welcomed the Ferris State Bulldogs to Marquette to open its CCHA play in the 2023-24 campaign, falling to the Bulldogs by a score of 2-1 in overtime.

The teams played a scoreless first period, that went back and forth in terms of control. The 'Cats came out firing, earning an early power play opportunity that carried momentum forward through the frame. It was the second period when the Bulldogs broke the scoreless tie, and they continued to pour on the pressure looking for a second. Through a middle frame that was majorly controlled by the Bulldogs, Andre Ghantous scored the lone goal for the Wildcats in the dying minutes to tie the game at one's heading into the third period. 

Beni Halasz stopped a penalty shot opportunity early in the third period to keep the game scoreless. The Wildcats played a dominant third period that saw goalie Noah Geisbrecht make a couple of desperation saves down the stretch to keep the Bulldogs in the game, which would ultimately lead the teams to overtime. Much like the third period, the overtime frame was dominated by the 'Cats with chance after chance. An odd man rush sprung the Bulldogs, leading to a breakaway to seal the deal in Marquette.

The Wildcats now fall to 0-4-1 overall and 0-1-0 in conference play, and the Bulldogs improve to 2-2-1 overall and 1-0-0 in conference play.

Cat Nips

• Andre Ghantous was the lone goal scorer for the Wildcats, giving him three tallies on the season.
• Both Grant Slukynsky and Aiden Gallacher registered helpers on the Ghantous goal.
• Kristof Papp led all skaters with six shots on target, Artem Shlaine led all skaters with 11 faceoff wins, and Andre Ghantous and Grant Slukynsky led all skaters with four blocks
• Beni Halaz recorded 26 saves from 28 shots, a .931 SV%
• The Wildcats outshot the Bulldogs 32-28, went 3/3 on the PK and 0/2 on the PP, won 33 faceoffs to FSU's 25, and blocked 22 shots to FSU's 16

How It Happened
1st
The 'Cats were awarded with an early power play, and although the Wildcats could not capitalize, the man advantage looked dangerous and generated plenty of good looks. This momentum carried the 'Cats with a flurry of even-strength opportunities in the ensuing minutes.

The 'Cats were whistled for two infractions in the opening frame, the second coming with a minute left to go in the frame, and did well to kill off all of the first and half of the second as the clock wound down. 

The teams skated to the locker rooms relatively even in all countable stat categories, with the 'Cats outshooting Ferris 10-9, an 11-10 faceoff advantage, and five blocks to FSU's four.

2nd
The Wildcats were able to kill off the remainder of the Ferris power play, but four minutes later the Bulldogs gained the first lead of the night off a perfectly placed pass to a Bulldog on the back door. 

It was a sloppy frame for the 'Cats at the Berry Events Center, as the Bulldogs controlled a majority of the play and chances, highlighted by 27 shot attempts to nine with just under five minutes remaining.

And seemingly out of nowhere, Grant Slukynsky came galloping down the slot with Andre Ghantous for an odd-man opportunity. Slukynsky fed Ghantous on the back door, who elevated the puck past the Ferris netminder to even the score at one's in the dying minutes of the middle frame.

Though the Wildcats evened the score in the middle frame, it was a period that was largely controlled by the Bulldogs. Nevertheless, Grant Potulny's team skated to the locker room tying the score at one-a-piece. 

3rd
Beni Halasz had to be sharp right away in the final frame, as the Wildcats were called for bringing down a Bulldog from behind on a breakaway. Beni Halasz came well out of his crease to challenge the shooter, made a confident poke check, and denied the Bulldog skater.

The Wildcats responded well, as the Kabanov-Papp-Colella line burst into the offensive zone. Kristof Papp made a great move to the middle of the ice and fired a shot that generated a juicy rebound. The 'Cats hacked away to try and find the puck, but the mad scramble bounced Ferris' direction. 

Artem Shlaine and Michael Mesic found themselves on a two-on-none from the hash marks. Shaline fed Mesic to the Ferris netminders' blocker side, who had to make a big push to get across and make a sprawling save to deny the Wildcats their best look of the evening.

Minutes later, Michael Colella took a beautiful feed from Papp who had another yawning cage to look at, but the blocker of Geisbrecht was there once more.

60 minutes wasn't enough for this one, and the first game back in the renovated Berry Events Center went to overtime.

Overtime
The 'Cats opened overtime with a two-on-one with Artem Shlaine and Josh Zinger, as Shlaine fed Zinger but Geisbrecht was there again.

The Wildcats dominated the overtime frame, including outshooting the Bulldogs 6-3, but an odd-man break into the Wildcat zone led to a Bulldog left all alone in the slot, who made a nifty move in tight to beat Halasz.

Up Next
Game two of the weekend matchup with the Bulldogs comes to you tomorrow at 6:07 p.m. from the Berry Events Center.