For the first time since the 2005-06 season, the Wildcats earned the second half of a season sweep against U.P. rival Michigan Tech with a 5-2 win on Saturday in Houghton, Mich.

“I think they’re a much improved team and their coaching staff has done a great job,” said head coach Walt Kyle. “It was rewarding to be able to do that up there.”

NMU, now 6-7-5-2 in the CCHA and 11-8-5 overall, came out to a 2-0 lead in the first 4:42 of play, with goals from senior left wing Justin Florek and junior defenseman Kyle Follmer.

“There was a great crowd up there and a great atmosphere,” Kyle said. “I think it was really important we get out ahead, which we did, and it quieted the building a little bit.”

Kyle said although it always helps to score early, the ’Cats need to do a better job of hanging onto those leads and remembering there is a full 60 minutes to play.

The Huskies (8-7-1 WCHA, 11-12-1 overall) scored their only two goals consecutively on power plays in the second period, tying the game 2-2.

“They didn’t get a goal five-on-five, and I thought that was reflective of the play,” Kyle said. “They got two power-play goals on us, but I think our penalty killing has been pretty good.”

Northern took the wind out of Tech’s sails with three unanswered goals to defeat the Huskies for the second time this year.

Florek earned his second of the night on a Wildcat power play, with assists from senior right wing Tyler Gron and Follmer.

Third-period goals by junior center Matt Thurber and an empty netter from Gron polished off the victory.

“Five-on-five, we were carrying the momentum and carrying the play,” Kyle said. “We played pretty well against Tech, and hopefully we’re just kind of building toward playing at the top of our game.”

Sophomore goaltender Jared Coreau earned the win for Northern, stopping 28 of 30 MTU shots.

“We were working in all areas,” Coreau said. “We were like a big puzzle; each one of us was a piece and all fit perfect.”

Coreau is ranked third in the CCHA for overall goals against, and fourth for conference goals against. His record for the season is 7-3-2.

“This year opposed to last year I feel a lot more confident,” Coreau said. “I feel like I can stop everything, and I think you just have to have that mindset.”

Kyle said Coreau has spent more time between the pipes lately than in the first stretch of the season, when senior goaltender Reid Ellingson often started.

“Jared’s numbers have been really good,” Kyle said. “We’re going to go with whichever one of the guys we feel gives us the greatest opportunity to win.”

Both Coreau and Ellingson will play and contribute, Kyle said. The team and coaching staff feel confident with either goaltender in net, he said.

With only four power-play goals in the last eight games, it’s an area the ’Cats are looking to improve.

“I don’t think our power play is near where it needs to be for us to have success,” Kyle said. “We continue to work at it, but you find with special teams, there’s ebbs and flows as the season goes.”

Coreau said if Northern can become more efficient and take advantage of its power play opportunities, it will earn the team more wins.

“We’re a special teams team,” Coreau said. “Our power play started out really strong, but right now we’re not pulling our weight as well as we should.”

The Wildcats travel to Oxford, Ohio this weekend to take battle No. 17 Miami University in CCHA play. Northern earned a sweep of the RedHawks when they last met at the Berry Events Center.

“They were really good when they were here, and we caught some breaks and had opportunistic scoring,” Kyle said. “If we’re going to have any success there we’re going to have to … be at the top of our game, and I think our guys are aware of that.”

Coreau said, over winter break, players and teams change gears and improve themselves. He said he expects to play an upgraded opponent.

“You’re not going to play the same Miami team,” Coreau said. “We know they’re a good team. They’ve got a lot of skilled players, and we just have to weather the storm.”

The ’Cats face Miami (10-8-2-1 CCHA, 14-10-2 overall) at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27 and at 7 p.m. Saturday Jan. 28.

“[Miami] has proven it’s one of the top teams in the country,” Kyle said.