MARQUETTE, Mich. - The NMU hockey team got back to winning ways on home ice, earning a critical three points with a 3-2 win over the St. Thomas Tommies.

The Wildcats opened the scoring with Matvei Kabanov on the power play and carried a 1-0 lead into the second intermission with his second goal of the season. Michael Colella continued his hot streak for the 'Cats, as he scored his sixth of the year to extend the lead to two goals just minutes into the second period. 

The Tommies struck back with two goals to close out the period, and the teams were deadlocked going into the final frame. Viking Gustafsson Nyberg fired a shot from the point that beat the goalie Trotter, giving the 'Cats a one-goal lead and the eventual game-winner. 

It was the defense that closed out the game, as the Tommies pulled the goalie with two and a half minutes left, and time of possession was all in the NMU end. A combination of crucial stops from Beni Halasz and key blocks from the defensive core, including Tyrell Boucher taking a slap-shot to the helmet in the dying seconds, and the Wildcats closed out game one from the Berry Events Center against the top team in the CCHA.

The Wildcats now improve to 6-7-0 with 18 points in CCHA play, and the Tommies fall to 9-6-0 and remain with 27 points.

Grant Potulny Post-Game Press Conference

Cat Nips

• Matvei Kabanov opened the scoring, tallying his second of the season on the power play
• Michael Colella registered a goal and an assist, his eighth and ninth points of the season and 11th career multi-point game. Colella now rides a three-game point streak (2-2--4)
• Viking Gustafsson Nyberg scored his second goal of the season (2-0--2), his first career game-winning goal
• Artem Shlaine recorded his 11th assist and 17th point of the season 
• Connor Eddy registered an assist, his ninth point of the year
• Andre Ghantous recorded his team-leading 16th assist and 22nd point of the season
• After missing the Lake State series with an injury, Jack Perbix came back in the lineup and registered an assist, bringing his season total to two
• Rylan Van Unen picked up his sixth assist of the season and seventh point. He now has three points in his previous four games (1-2--3)
• Beni Halasz made 26 saves from 28 shots, a .929 SV%
• The Wildcats now improve to 7-2-1 on home ice and when scoring 3+ goals, 4-6-0 when scoring first, and 3-4-0 when leading after the first period
• The 'Cats have now scored four PPGs in the 'Cats last six home games, and are 20/22 (90.9%) on the PK in the previous seven home games

How It Happened
1st Period
The Wildcats were awarded the game's first power play opportunity and made good with their opportunity. A point shot generated a rebound and havoc around the crease, Colella shoveled it back on target, and Kabanov was on the doorstep to find the loose change and net his second goal of the season. 

The 'Cats were the only team on the scoreboard after 20 minutes of play, scoring the lone goal on the man advantage. The 'Cats outshot the Tommies 11-7, went 1/2 on the PP, and killed their only penalty.

2nd Period
It took the Wildcats three minutes to double up the lead, as Colella took a feed from Eddy and was all alone below the hash marks. Colella fired the puck just as quickly as it found its way on his stick, and beat Trotter over the pad.

The Wildcats allowed a rare power-play goal on home ice, as Ryan O'Neill fired a one-timer from the left circle and beat Halasz, drawing the Tommies within one.

The Tommies tied the game four minutes later, as a shot from the point was redirected by Luc Laylin and bounced between the legs of Halasz.

The teams skated to the locker room deadlocked at two goals a piece with 20 minutes to play. Despite scoring one goal less in the frame, the 'Cats outshot the Tommies 11-8. The Tommies scored on their only man-advantage opportunity, and the 'Cats went 0/2 on the PP.

3rd Period
The 'Cats struck early once again, this time coming two and a half minutes into the frame. Gustafsson Nyberg fired a seeing-eye shot from the point that beat Trotter before ringing the iron and finding the back of the net. 

A combination of terrific saves from Halasz and crucial blocks from Gustafsson Nyberg, Shlaine, and Tyrell Boucher sealed the deal for the 'Cats, as they skated to the locker room with a 3-2 win on home ice.

Up Next
Game two of the weekend series against the Tommies returns to the Berry Events Center tomorrow night at 6:07 p.m.