HOUGHTON, Mich. - The NMU hockey team opened its 2023/24 season series with rival Michigan Tech with a contest in Houghton, falling 4-2.

The 'Cats skated well in the first period, leading by one and controlling most of the game going into the second. The Huskies struck within the first five minutes of the second to tie the game, then capitalized twice on the power play as the 'Cats were serving a five-minute major. The penalty carried over into the third period, and the 'Cats were able to kill the remainder. Despite terrific comeback efforts in the third period, the 'Cats came up just short, and the 'Cats now head back to Marquette with a chance to split the series at home.

The Huskies outshot the Wildcats 39-31, the 'Cats were 0/3 on the PP and 2/4 on the PK, and blocked 20 shots to 14. 

The Wildcats fall to 6-9-2 overall and 4-5-0 in CCHA play, and the Huskies improve to 8-7-3 overall and 6-3-0 in CCHA play. 

Cat Nips

• Colby Enns opened the scoring with his first goal of the season, giving him 15 career points (5-10--15)
• Reilly Funk scored his first goal of the season, his second career goal and eighth career point
• Artem Shlaine registered an assist, giving him three points in his last two games (0-3--3)
• Jakub Peterson registered his first career point as a Wildcat, coming as an assist on the Funk goal
• Beni Halasz made 35 saves on 39 shots, a .897 SV%

How It Happened
1st Period
The 'Cats special teams were put to work right away, as a minor penalty against the 'Cats was whistled 12 seconds in. NMU did a great job in killing it, and had the best scoring chance for either team while a man down. Ghantous and Shlaine took advantage of a miscue at the NMU blueline and walked in 2-on-1, but Pietila made a sprawling save.

The 'Cats carried the momentum into the next handful of minutes and were able to capitalize. Shlaine won an offensive zone faceoff that Enns wristed through traffic and beat Pietila, giving the 'Cats a 1-0 lead five minutes into the game. 

The 'Cats skated to the locker room with a 1-0 lead after the opening 20. The 'Cats led on the scoreboard, were 1/1 on the PK, blocked eight shots to three, and controlled the faceoff circle 15-8.

2nd Period
Mirroring the first period, the Huskies were whistled for an early infraction. They killed the penalty, then minutes later Logan Pietila scored to tie the game at one-a-piece just under five minutes into the middle frame. 

Halasz was on his mark in this one, as around the 10-minute mark the Huskies got a breakaway, and Halasz was up to the task and made a key save to keep the game tied. Moments later the Huskies had another point-blank opportunity, but Halasz made the save once again.

The 'Cats were whistled for a five-minute major with just under three remaining in the period. The Huskies capitalized twice before the period ended, one taking a bounce off a Wildcat skate before trickling across the line. 

The Huskies surged with a three-goal second period, jumping to a 3-1 lead in the final 20 minutes. The 'Cats were outshot 10-16, but were ahead in the faceoff dot, 12-9, and in blocks, 7-3. 

3rd Period
The 'Cats opened the period by killing the remainder of the five-minute major before the offense generated two great opportunities. Slukynsky walked in and took a shot on a 2-on-1 that barely missed, and Ghantous saucer passed the puck to Shlaine in the slot who redirected the puck on goal and forced Pietila to make a save.

Out of nowhere, the Wildcats make something happen. Funk streaked down the left wing board and into the zone, driving below the faceoff dot into the corner. A centering play caught Pietila off guard, as the puck deflected off the back of his stick through the five-hole and into the back of the net, cutting the lead to one with five minutes remaining.

The Huskies responded the other way, capitalizing on a two-on-one and restoring the Huskies two-goal lead with three minutes left.

The 'Cats out-chanced the Huskies in the third period, registering 14 shots on target to eight, but were unable to complete the comeback.

Up Next
The 'Cats finish the home-and-home series with Michigan Tech tomorrow night at the Berry Events Center, a 6:07 p.m. puck-drop.