Northern Michigan still unbeaten in 2010

By Susannah Nichols/Northern Michigan Beat Writer

Northern Michigan remains unbeaten in 2010 - by the skin of their teeth.

After routing conference cellar-dweller Bowling Green 6-0 on Friday, the Wildcats skated to a 3-3 tie on Saturday. They won the shootout thanks to shootout goals by Mark Olver and Gregor Hanson.

Northern's record now stands at 10-8-6, 6-6-4-1 in CCHA play.

The Wildcats shared the offensive credit on Friday, with 11 players earning points on the team's six goals. Hanson was most productive, with two goals and two assists, and Ray Kaunisto followed with two assists and a power-play goal. The 'Cats outshot the Falcons, 35-23, and went 4-for-8 on the power play.

Brian Stewart was perfect in goal with 23 saves.

On Saturday, the Falcons made things a little more challenging for the home team as they stayed even with the 'Cats in shots during the first period. Tomas Petruska scored two goals, one on the power play, to put Bowling Green up 2-0 midway through the first period.

Tyler Gron notched a power-play goal of his own to get the 'Cats on the board before the first intermission. Andrew Cherniwchan and Kyle Follmer assisted on the play.

Bowling Green scored the lone goal of the second period and outshot Northern, 13-8.

The 'Cats took control in the third period. They held the Falcons to just four shots. Billy Smith scored his third goal of the season, with some help from Erik Gustafsson and TJ Miller, at 6:12, and Justin Florek notched the tying goal on the power play at 10:13. Hanson and Olver assisted on Florek's goal.

In overtime, the 'Cats couldn't convert on either of their two shots, but did kill a Falcons' power play. In the shootout, Olver and Hanson scored and neither of the Falcons shooters were able to score.

Stewart finished with 28 saves.

The Wildcats hit the road next weekend as they'll play the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks at 8:30 p.m. on Friday and 8:00 p.m. on Saturday.