BEMIDJI, Minn. – No. 12 Michigan Technological University clung to a 3-2 victory over the Bemidji State University Men's Hockey team Saturday night at Sanford Center to earn the Central Collegiate Hockey Association series sweep over the Beavers.
 
Bemidji State (11-12-5, 9-8-3 CCHA) went down 3-0 with 12:25 to play but scored twice over the next 8:46 to pull within one of the 12^th-ranked Huskies (20-7-4, 13-5-4 CCHA) but it was too little too late as Michigan Tech held off a desperate Beaver attack in the final minutes to cling to the 3-2 victory.
 
For the second consecutive night, Husky goaltender Blake Pietila had the Beavers frustrated as he turned aside 37-of-39 shots on the night to earn his second win in as many nights.
 
Michigan Tech opened the scoring in the first period with a tic-tac-toe play while on a Husky power play where Logan Pietila was the benefactor of a nice passing play to bury the game's first goal at the 9:53 mark of the opening frame.
 
The Huskies would add to their lead in the second period when Parker Saretsky was left alone in front of Beaver goaltender Mattias Sholl and capitalized to score his seventh goal of the season.
 
Bemidji State should fight still and after the 40 minutes it held a 22-15 shot advantage and provided hope for the final 20 minutes of play. However, 7:35 into the third period, Marcus Pedersen scored his first goal of the season on a shot that just trickled past Sholl to extend the Huskies lead to three.
 
The Beavers did not quit and just 43 seconds later, Jere Vaisanen batted home a rebounded shot from Lleyton Roed that made its way to the middle of the ice to show signs of life for the Beavers.
   
The goal came to the satisfaction of many in the building as Teddy Bears came raining down onto the ice in the hundreds to be donated in part of a Teddy Bear Toss.
 
Just like that a raucous 3,000 people came alive at Sanford Center trying to fuel a Beaver comeback. The Beavers feed off of that energy and with Sholl pulled for the extra skater and time ticking down from four minutes remaining, Roed tipped in a nice pass from fifth-year senior Kade Pickering with just 3:39 left on the clock to pull the Beavers within one.
 
The Beavers added to their pressure looking to score the game-tying goal before the period's end and had several grade-a chances but Pietila stood strong between the pipes and kept the Beavers from finding the back of the net.
 
Bemidji State dictated play for most of the game and out-shot Michigan Tech by nearly two-fold at 39-21 including a 17-6 advantage in the third period but couldn't find that critical third goal.
 
With the loss, the Beavers fall to below .500 for the first time this season at 11-12-5 but remain fourth in the CCHA standings. However, Ferris State University earned five-of-six points over its series and now trail the Beavers by just one point.
 
Every game maters in the CCHA but even more next weekend as the Beavers travel to Big Rapids, Mich., to face the Bulldogs in their home barn. Game one is scheduled for 6:07 p.m., CT Friday, Feb. 10 with game two to follow Saturday at 5:07 p.m. Each game can be watched online at FloHockey.tv or can be listened to at www.beaverradionetork.com or at 92.1FM on the radio dial.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State men's hockey program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on Twitter or Instagram (@BSUBeaversMHKY), or like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers).
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and women's hockey in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
 
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