SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana hockey fended off a slow start and used strong momentum in the third period to complete the weekend series sweep with a 4-1 win over Northern Michigan on Saturday night inside Midco Arena.
The win pushes the Vikings to a 7-0-1 overall record with a 2-0-0 showing in the CCHA while the Wildcats drop to 2-6-0 and 0-2-0.
Augustana created the first sustained chances of the first period, with
Owen Baumgartner,
Jacob Jastrzebski and
Nace Langus putting shots on Max Weilandt before Northern Michigan began testing
Mathis Langevin. An opponent interference penalty gave Augustana a power play, but a Viking interference penalty ended it early, and Langevin handled the Wildcats' ensuing looks. NMU pushed again late with saves by Langevin while Augustana had shots blocked or missed in the final minutes as the first period ended scoreless.
The Vikings pushed early in the second period, with Weilandt stopping attempts by
Heath Nelson,
Leonid Bulgakov,
Brett Meerman and
Will Howard before an elbowing minor sent Northern Michigan to a power play.
Cole Burtch turned that kill into the period's first goal at 8:22, scoring short-handed off
Joey DelGreco's assist for a 1-0 AU lead. The Wildcats answered before the advantage expired, as Merril Steenari scored on the power play at 9:25 to tie it 1-1. After
Ryan Whiterabbit hit the pipe, Augustana had a late power play that included Weilandt saves on
Easton Young and Bulgakov. A brief Northern Michigan power play in the final minute ended with a Wildcat holding penalty before the period closed tied 1-1.
Augustana converted an early third-period power play when
Hunter Bischoff scored at 17:26 off assists from Meerman and
Siamion Marshchanok, putting AU ahead 2-1.
Landon Fandel added an even-strength goal at 16:18, with Burtch and Langus assisting, before Northern Michigan called timeout. Langevin handled NMU's chances through the middle and late stages of the period, and the Vikings continued to generate shots before the visitors went to an empty net at 2:48. Bulgakov scored into the empty net at 2:15 off a
Hayden Hennen assist, closing out a three-goal third period and securing a 4-1 Augustana win.
Game Moments
- Northern Michigan controlled the faceoff dot, winning 54% of total faceoffs
- Langevin totaled 20 saves on 21 shots to secure the win
- Augustana registered 39 total shots on goal while holding Northern Michigan to 21
- Weilandt turned away 35 of 39 shots for the visiting Wildcats
- Burtch led with two points off his one assist and one goal
- Four different Vikings combined to score the four total Augustana goals
Goals
- Burtch scored the first short-handed goal of the season at 8:22 in the second period off an assist from DelGreco
- Northern Michigan tied things up at 1-1 with a power play goal just one minute later at 9:25 in the second period
- Augustana struck on the power play courtesy of Bischoff from Meerman and Marshchanok at 2:34 in the third period
- Fandel netted an even-strength goal at 3:42 to take a 3-1 lead with help from Burtch and Langus
- The scoring ended when Bulgakov drilled home an empty-netter at 17:45 off an assist from Hennen
UP NEXT
Augustana hockey returns to the road as the Vikings head out to take on Michigan Tech in a Nov. 6 and 7 weekend series in Houghton with start times of 6:07 p.m. and 5:07 p.m. CT, respectively.
--GoAugie.com--
