A point is a point, even if it technically doesn’t count in the WCHA standings. The Chargers certainly won’t any for granted.
Carmine Guerriero had another stellar night between the pipes, stopping 34 of 35 shots, and Matt Salhany’s shorthanded goal in the second period gave UAH a 1-1 tie with Northern Michigan in Marquette on Friday.
UAH is now 0-6-1 with the draw. It was the first blemish on Northern Michigan’s record, now 4-0-1.
The two-game series, which continues Saturday at 6 p.m. Huntsville time, was scheduled before UAH joined the WCHA, and is thus a non-conference series despite being against a conference foe.
The first period was brisk at about 25 minutes. No goals, no penalties, hardly any stoppage of play.
The second period was not so quick, with two goals (one reviewed) and four penalties.
NMU struck first. The Wildcats crashed the net, and after about 10 seconds of pounding away, Shane Seckel finally snuck the puck past Guerriero at 1:04 of the period. The goal withstood video review.
The Chargers committed three penalties, which lead to the Wildcats piling some shots on goal — 15 for the period — with their power plays.
But UAH held them off each time, and even netted its first shorthanded goal of the season. Brent Fletcher fed Matt Salhany near the Northern Michigan blue line, and Salhany turned on the jets for a breakaway. Salhany beat NMU goaltender Mathias Dahlstrom high to tie the game at 1-1 with 3:09 to go in the second. It was the sophomore’s first goal of the season and sixth of his UAH career.
The Chargers were outshot 11-3 in the third period, but didn’t allow the late third-period game-winning goals that haunted UAH in the opening series at Colorado College.
Guerriero, named the No. 1 star of the game, was spectacular, making big glove and body saves. NMU’s Dominik Shine knows first hand, as he was stymied multiple times in the period. Guerriero’s save on Shine’s toe-drag shot with 20 seconds remaining kept UAH’s hopes alive.
The Chargers got all three shots on goal in overtime, but Dahlstrom held firm, making a save on Cody Champagne in the final minute.
UAH finished with a total of 19 shots on goal to NMU’s 35.