Bulldogs Snare CCHA Point In Dramatic Come From Behind Effort Vs. Northern Michigan

Postgame Highlights 

Big Rapids, Mich. - In what was an offensive explosion of a combined 13 goals, the Ferris State University men's ice hockey team forced overtime despite trailing by two goals with less than 3:30 in regulation before falling in overtime 7-6 to the Northern Michigan Wildcats Saturday (Nov. 20) in Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) action to pick up a point in CCHA play.

Ferris State dominated play with a 44-18 shots on goal advantage on the night, while sophomore defenseman Sam Skinner and senior forward Justin Michaelian each had three point outings to lead the Dawgs.

The Bulldogs had a 19-5 shots on goal advantage after the first period alone and got on the board first at 7:35 when sophomore forward Mitch Deelstra fired a wrist shot for the low right corner and his second goal of the year. Skinner (3) picked up his first assist of the night on the play.

NMU tied the game at 12:23 when Mack Byers scored his first collegiate goal on a breakaway off the left wing wall.

At 16:56 of the opening frame, the Dawgs responded with a rush of their own when junior forward Dallas Tulik finished off a backhander on a break down the left side of the slot for his fourth goal of the year. Justin Michaelian (5) and Skinner (4) picked up the assists on the goal that gave Ferris State a 2-1 lead headed to the second period.

Early in the third, Ferris State capitalized on a carryover power play when senior forward Ethan Stewart lifted a puck at the top of the crease past diving NMU goaltender Rico DiMatteo for his third goal of the year and a 3-1 Ferris State lead. Junior forward Jason Brancheau (1) and sophomore defenseman Ben Schultheis (2) picked up helpers on the play.

The Wildcats erupted for four straight goals in the second period, scoring at 3:03 (Rylan Van Unen), 6:54 (Andre Ghantous), 15:26 on a power play one timer (AJ Vanderbeck) and at 17:16 (Oscar Geschwind) for a 5-3 second intermission lead.

In the third period, Ferris State struck back at 2:14 to pull within a goal when freshman defenseman Nico DeVita shook down the right lane and rifled in his first collegiate goal to cut the NMU lead to 5-4 early in the third period.

Northern Michigan scored shorthanded at 12:43 when Hank Crone got a breakaway after a zone clear for a 6-4 NMU lead, but the determined Bulldogs bit back quickly.

On their own penalty kill at 16:57, Ferris State got aggressive and scored their fifth shorthanded goal of the year, most in the nation, when Skinner spun a backhander off a Wildcat that bounced over DiMatteo and in for a 6-5 NMU edge. Sophomore forward Stepan Pokorny (5) and Justin Michaelian (6) earned assists on the Skinner shorthanded tally.

Gifted an offensive zone faceoff with 30 seconds on the clock, Ferris State ran a faceoff play and cashed in to tie the game. A clean faceoff when by freshman forward Bradley Marek (4) back to senior defenseman Brendon Michaelian (4) was fired off the left pad of DiMatteo. The rebound found Justin Michaelian's tape as he buried it into the gaping cage for his third goal of the year at 19:32.7 of the third period to force overtime, giving the Bulldogs a guaranteed CCHA point.

In three-on-three overtime, Ferris State suffered their first OT loss in three tries this season when Michael Van Unen scored 96 seconds into the overtime for the Wildcat win.

In goal, Ferris State sophomore goaltender Logan Stein took the loss, he made 11 stops in relief of senior goaltender Roni Salmenkangas halfway through the game. Salmenkangas made seven stops and allow three goals. DiMatteo picked up the OT win with 38 stops.

Ferris State went 1-4 on the power play while Northern Michigan finished 1-5.

The Bulldogs next head north to take on the Michigan Tech Huskies at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena, Friday and Saturday Nov. 26-27 in CCHA action.