Portage Northern 5 Mattawan 3

For the second time this season the Mattawan Wildcats and the Portage Northern Huskies played a fierce contest at the Annex in Kalamazoo. Just like their first meeting, Mattawan started off the game with a point to prove. They dominated most of the first period, but could not put anything past Husky goaltender Barry Toornman. The first period ended in a 0-0 tie.

The second period was all Northern. Kevin Campbell got the Huskies on the board when he buried a rebound from a Nicco Braganini shot. On their very next shift, Campbell found Braganini on the back door and the Huskies had a two goal lead. Dan Evert was the recipient of another backdoor pass from Braganini and he scored the Huskies third consecutive goal. Mattawan's Tyler Bechtel pulled the Wildcats within 2 goals when he scored on a rebound from Steve Beaudet's shot. Northern then added two more goals in the last 52 seconds of the first period to lead 5-1 at the end of two. Josh Ruggles scored goal #4 with assists going to Rob Fender and Doug Wheelright. Kevin Campbell capped his 3 point night with Northern's 5th goal. Evert and Braganini assisted.

Mattawan outplayed the Huskies in the final period, scoring two goals to Northern's none. Nate Merritt scored a very nice goal on a pass from Bechtel. Dylan Dault also assisted. Austin Avery scored the game's final goal with assists going to Josh Davidson and Dault.

Mattawan's Derek Straub stopped 17 of 22 shots. Toornman stopped 17 of 20. Northern's Nicco Braganini continued his outstanding season with a 4 point night. Mattawan's next contest is Wednesday vs Portage Central. The Huskies face Forest Hills Central on Thursday in the first round of the Grandville tournament.