By Journal Sports Staff

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Northern Michigan University ice hockey team missed out on critical WCHA points Friday night, skating to a 2-2 tie with Alabama-Huntsville.

The Chargers picked up the extra league point on a Cam Knight goal in the second overtime period.

The Wildcats sit at 14-13-1 overall, picking up one point and holding onto fourth place in the WCHA standings with 40 points. Michigan Tech trails NMU with 37 points while Lake Superior state is one point ahead with 41.

NMU fell into a 2-0 hole after UAH goals from Jack Jeffers and Brandon Salerno less than three minutes apart in the second period.

The Wildcats found the net and the scoreboard on Troy Loggins’ 13th of the year, a power play tally at 5:12 of the second with assists from Adam Rockwood and Darien Craighead, to cut the lead in half.

NMU tied it with less than six minutes to go in the third on Ty Readman’s third of the season, another power play goal with Philip Beaulieu and Joseph Nardi picking up assists.

Shots were 36-22 in favor of the Wildcats after regulation.

In the first OT session, which features regular 5-on-5, Griffin Loughran scored a goal with 26 seconds left to seemingly giving the Wildcats a three-point win. Officials waved the goal off, however, ruling goaltender interference. The clock ran out on the first OT session, making the game an official tie and giving each team one WCHA point.

The second OT frame, played 3-on-3 with the winner getting the extra league point, was won by Knight on a breakaway after he beat NMU netminder Atte Tolvanen.

Final shots were 43-24 in favor of the Wildcats. Tolvanen stopped 22 shots while UAH goaltender Mark Sinclair backstopped 41.

The teams square off in the series finale today with puck drop set for 4:37 p.m. EST.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Writer Ryan Spitza. Email him at sports@miningjournal.net.