MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Wildcats dropped the regular-season series finale with the Beavers on Saturday, earning one CCHA point in a 3-3 tie before falling in the shootout.

After a scoreless first, Grant Slukynsky scored two minutes into the middle frame to give the 'Cats the first lead of the game. After Adam Flammang tied the game, Artem Shlaine notched his team-leading ninth goal to regain the lead; but it was short-lived, as Eric Pohlkamp evened the game a minute later, and the four-goal second period ended in a 2-2 tie.

It was the Beavers who struck first in the third, Flammang getting his second of the evening, before Andre Ghantous fired home his seventh goal of the season and 150th career point to send the game to overtime.

Neither team was successful in the 3-on-3, so a shootout was needed to determine who gained the extra CCHA point. Eric Martin was the lone scorer in the shootout, and the Beavers claimed two points on Saturday.

The 'Cats now move to 9-14-5 overall and 7-10-3 in CCHA play with 26 points, and the Beavers move to 11-15-2 overall and 9-7-2 in CCHA play with 32 points.

Grant Potulny Post Game Press Conference - 2/10/24

Cat Nips

• Andre Ghantous tied the game at three, giving him 26 points on the season and 150 career points
• Grant Slukynsky opened the scoring, giving him goals in back-to-back games and extending his season total to four (4-3--7)
• Artem Shlaine notched his team-leading ninth goal of the year and sixth goal on the power play (9-13--22)
• Michael Mesic picked up two assists, giving him four points in his last three games (1-3--4)
• Kevin Marx Noren extended his point streak to four games (1-5--6) with his 11th assist of the year (4-11--15)
• Michael Colella extended his point streak to three games (1-2--3) with an assist, bringing his season totals to 12 (7-5--12)
• Aiden Gallacher found the score sheet with an assist, bringing his season total to eight (3-5--8)
• Beni Halasz made 14 saves on 17 shots (.824)
• The 'Cats went 2/2 on the PK and 1/4 on the PP

How It Happened
1st Period
There was no scoring in the first period and relatively uneventful, but the 'Cats held the advantage in shots (5-3) and faceoffs (12-3), and went 0/1 on the periods only man advantage opportunity.

2nd Period
Slukynsky opened the scoring for the 'Cats as he played a sweet give-and-go play with Mesic, who moved the puck from the bottom of the left circle to Slukynsky in the slot and he fired a wrister over the glove of Sholl.

Adam Flamming was left unattended to in the slot, and Carter Jones slid a pass to Flammang at the bottom of the right circle. The puck was on his stick for only a second before it was over the far shoulder of Halasz.

The 'Cats took the lead on the power play, as Shlaine was on the back door and finished off a tic-tac-toe play with Mesic and Marx Noren, regaining the lead just over the halfway mark of the frame.

The Beavers tied the game a minute later as Eric Pohlkamp was racing down the slot and finished off a seeing-eye pass from Kasper Magnussen.

3rd Period
The Beavers gained their first lead of the game off a broken play, as the bouncing puck landed on the stick of Flammang who shoveled it on goal and it found a way to sneak past Halasz.

Overtime/ Shootout
Neither team scored in the overtime frame, despite numerous chances from the 'Cats. Eric Martin was the lone goal scorer in the shootout, and the Beavers claimed the extra CCHA point.

Up Next
The 'Cats have a bye this weekend and will resume play on February 23 in Ferris State at 7:07 p.m. from the Ewigleben Ice Arena.