The Chargers’ home record may need some work, but their road record is shoring up nicely.
UAH defeated Northern Michigan in Marquette by a 4-1 score Friday night, improving its WCHA road record to 5-1-1 on the season.
The Chargers (6-11-2 overall, 6-7-2 WCHA) have won three straight away contests for the first time since the 2004-05 season.
It was UAH’s first ever win at Northern Michigan (4-13-2 overall, 2-10-1 WCHA), which has yet to win at home this season (0-7-1).
The Wildcats had a good start, though, thanks to noted thorn-in-UAH’s-side Dominik Shine. Shine picked the puck off of Brandon Parker near the UAH blue line, skated in alone on Jordan Uhelski and beat him five-hole at 9:32. It was Shine’s eighth career goal and 14th point against UAH in 13 games.
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UAH tied the game at 14:27 when Cody Marooney backhanded a loose puck in the crease just between the post and NMU goalie Atte Tolvanen. Marooney’s first goal of the season was assisted by Regan Soquila and Brent Fletcher.
The Chargers took a 2-1 lead with seven seconds left in the first when, as a UAH power play expired, Brandon Parker unleashed a blast from the point. Hans Gorowsky and Josh Kestner got the assists.
UAH extended its lead with two goals in the second period.
With 7:11 remaining, off the face off in the NMU zone, Max McHugh scored his sixth goal of the season — snapping a 10-game goal-less streak — for a 3-1 Charger lead. John Teets had the assist.
Then with 4:50 to go in the frame, Josh Kestner slid the puck past Tolvanen from the left circle to make it 4-1 UAH. Tyler Poulsen had the primary assist with his pass from the boards, and Parker got the other helper.
It was a busy period all around for Tolvanen as UAH outshot 17-7. Tolvanen had 29 saves on the night.
NMU had some chances to close the gap in the third period, including an extended power play situation thanks to overlapping penalties by Matt Salhany and Richard Buri, but came up empty handed. UAH killed all five of NMU’s power play opportunities.
Uhelski finished with 24 saves. UAH was 0-for-6 with the power play.
Game two of the series is Saturday at 6:07 p.m. Central Time and can be seen on WCHA.tv.