Northern Michigan University’s Medrick Bolduc, center, gets into position in front of the Bemidji State net before taking a pass from a teammate he isn’t able to connect with during their CCHA game played at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Jan. 30. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — Desperate times call for desperate measures for the hockey team at Northern Michigan University.

The Wildcats not only need two wins to have a chance to capture the Cappo Cup in their annual series against Lake Superior State, but need both those victories to get back in the race for the eighth and final spot in the upcoming CCHA Tournament.

NMU came within two minutes of at least for one night taking back that position from Ferris State on Friday night, but instead allowed in the game-tying goal, then lost in a shootout in an official 4-4 tie.

With a 6-0 blanking of Northern on Saturday evening, the Bulldogs took control of their playoff future by building a six-point bulge on the Wildcats for eighth place. Ferris (6-25-1, 5-18-1 CCHA) now has 18 points to 12 for the Wildcats (3-26-1, 3-18-1 CCHA).

The six-point difference is the equivalent of two regulation victories — just what NMU would like this weekend, especially with Ferris having its final bye week and unable to earn any points over this time period.

As far as the Cappo Cup goes, Northern is down 2-0 in wins and losses, but only behind 4-2 in goal differential, meaning two official wins will at least even up the goal total.

The Lakers are also sitting just ahead of Ferris and NMU in seventh place at 9-19-2 overall and 6-15-1 in the league, its 23 points well behind the 32 posted by the next team ahead of them, Bemidji State.

And finally, Saturday’s pregame festivities in Northern’s final home game of the season will include honoring its seven graduating seniors — Nicolas Ardanaz, Tynan Ewart, Zane Demsey, Caiden Gault, Kyle Bettens, Danny Ciccarello and Matthew Argentina.

The Wildcats will also auction off game-worn 30th anniversary jerseys on Friday, with the NMU Student Athletic Advisory Committee holding a Miracle Minute fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The games, at 7:07 p.m. Friday and 6:07 p.m. Saturday at the Berry Events Center, will be broadcast on radio station WUPT 100.3 FM The Point and available on video streaming on Midco Sports Plus. Fans can also visit the Northern athletics website at nmuwildcats.com and look under the hockey schedule for links to ticket information, live audio, live statistics and a preview.

Last weekend, NMU head coach Dave Shyiak described the series at Ferris as a “playoff-like” atmosphere, particularly on Friday night when the Wildcats had a 4-2 lead halfway through the third period.

“I thought we played really well on Friday,” Shyiak said in an NMU Sports Information news release previewing this weekend’s series. “I thought our guys were prepared, our mindset was in a good spot, and I thought we had control of the game. We carried the play and had a two-goal lead with seven minutes left; we felt pretty good about ourselves.

“We’re a young team, and sometimes our immaturity shows in the wrong moments of the game…. But our guys didn’t panic after that, and we had some chances to win in overtime … but I was happy with the game we played and thought they deserved more, but we were unable to get it done.”

Saturday’s contest didn’t start so bad, but when Ferris got going, it snowballed on Northern.

“I thought we played (Ferris) pretty even until they scored their first goal, and then by the time they scored the shorthanded goal, our guys were starting to show some frustration.

“And credit to Ferris, they played with urgency, and they were the better team on Saturday.”

Shyiak and his crew know what is at stake this weekend. 

“We have to go out and play our best game on Friday, that’s our whole concentration right now. Let’s have a good week of practice, as we did last week, and you want to play your best hockey this time of the year, no matter who you play.”

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release previewing the games. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.