Unlike last night, the Chargers had a strong start: it was an 8-4 shots-on-goal advantage early, and the boys were ramping up the pressure. The team looked to be feeling pretty good going into the break, and then a penalty, and then a power-play goal for the Wildcats with just :26 left, as CJ Ludwig ripped a shot from the point that made it all the way through traffic for a 1-0 lead.
Play was fairly even for the first few minutes of the second period, but the Wildcats scored again with a point shot, as Wade Epp rifled a puck through from the blue line to put the home side up 2-0. There was some controversy about a possible third goal, but it was waved off after the replay showed that Carmine Guerriero’s mask was loose before the scoring shot was taken.
After two periods, the shots on goal were fairly even, 17-13 NMU with the edge. Then the wheels fell off, and the advantage ballooned to 33-17 for the final tally. Another goal was reviewed, but this one was allowed to stand, as it appeared as if a Charger initiated the contact into Guerriero, so Reed Seckel’s goal stood up. Ryan Daugherty netted the fourth and final goal after Mathias Dahlstrom left his net on a delayed penalty call.
Northern was 1-for-2 on the power play tonight as the Chargers limited their penalties. The Chargers were 0-for-2.
The Chargers make the long, cold, 20-hour bus ride home from da UP tonight, and they’ll be back on the road on Thanksgiving to South Bend, Ind., for Notre Dame’s Shillelagh Tournament. The boys are next at the VBC December 13th and 14th.