MARQUETTE, Mich. - The NMU hockey team dropped opening night of conference play in a 3-0 loss to Michigan Tech.

"We continue to build on the positives, and I think the positives were we had a lot of grade-A chances," commented head coach Dave Shyiak in his post-game press conference, who saw his Wildcats record nine shots from inside the slot or closer. "This was the most grade-A chances that we've had in any of our games this season, and we just have to convert on those. We convert on those, and [the Huskies] start playing catch-up… There was opportunities to score, we just didn't convert, and we have to continue generating those type of scoring chances."

The 'Cats only gave up one five-on-five goal, the opening tally in the first period. Both of Michigan Tech's goals in the middle frame came on the man advantage, and no goals were scored in the final 20 minutes. Michigan Tech was essentially awarded three power plays to NMU's none, as the 'Cats only look on the man advantage came as time was expiring and down three goals in the third period.

"The game changes when you aren't playing catch-up hockey; when you're playing catch-up hockey you end up chasing the game, and we were tired out there. We lost a lot of stick battles, lost a lot of board battles… and then they converted on two power-play goals and on one chance five-on-five... I liked our grade-A scoring chances, we just have to convert on those."

Ryan Ouellette was stellar once again, making 38 saves to post a .927 SV%, including 14 saves from high-danger areas.. Ouellette has now made 30+ saves in all six of his games, five of those being 36+ save performaces.

The Wildcats now look West, as the team travels to Houghton for a rematch tomorrow night against the Huskies. Puck-drop Saturday night from the 'Mac' is set for 6:07 PM. When asked about what the message to the team is ahead of tomorrow's game, Shyiak said he wants his team to stick to the process.

"Just stick with it. We can't get frustrated; when you're frustrated it sucks all of your energy out of you and you can't make plays. We know we're struggling to score some goals, but I told the guys that this was the most scoring chances we've had all year, and we have to stick together."

Dave Shyiak Post-Game Press Conference

Highlights


How It Happened
Directly off the first-period media timeout, a Husky point shot took a strange bounce off the back wall behind Ouellette, skirting directly to an MTU forward in front of the net, who beat the netminder from in tight.

The Huskies struck on the man advantage just over three minutes into the second, as a Stiven Sardarian spun his way free from his defender in front and was able to get a stick on the puck for a tap in on the back door.

The Huskies were gifted another power play just minutes later. Max Koskipirtti walked in from the right circle and fired a wicked wrister over the pad and under the blocker of Ouellette.