Shot totals have not leaned in NMU’s favor the past few weeks, and the WCHA’s last-place Alabama Huntsville Chargers kept that pace rolling Friday night with a 47-22 shot advantage over the Wildcats.

But NMU’s junior forward Dominik Shine converted on the shot that counted most in the game, a penalty shot with 17 seconds remaining in regulation to break a 3-3 tie and complete a hattrick for himself in the series opener.

The victory snapped a four-game winless streak for the ’Cats dating back to Nov. 7 in Fairbanks, Alaska, and moved NMU’s conference point total to 11.

Shine opened the game’s scoring at 8:17 in the first period on a two-man breakaway with sophomore defenseman Brock Maschmeyer, who was just exiting the penalty box as Shine skated by, to overpower junior goalie Matt Larose and find twine behind him for the 1-0 lead.

Later in the opening period, Alabama tied the game at 15:03 in the first with a goal from sophomore forward Max McHugh, the WCHA’s fourth leader in points.

Shine had a quick response to the Chargers’ goal, as sophomore forward Robbie Payne assisted Shine on his second goal just 18 seconds later to put the ’Cats back on top.

The ice tilted in Alabama’s favor in the second period, with the Chargers outshooting NMU 15-3 with a pair of goals from Alabama’s senior forward Chad Brears and freshman forward Jetlan Houcher to give the Chargers a 3-2 lead at the end of two periods.

NMU came out of the locker room in the third period with a quick goal at 4:20 from senior defenseman Darren Nowick to tie the game at three goals apiece.

As the third period was nearing a close, NMU’s sophomore defenseman Zach Diamantoni took a tripping penalty with just over two minutes remaining in the third to put Alabama on the man-advantage for nearly the remainder of regulation.

With less than 30 seconds remaining in the game, Shine found himself on a breakaway after a defensive zone clear from his own end and was tripped up just infront of Larose by Alabama’s freshman defenseman Kurt Gosselin to set up the penalty shot.

Shine’s wristshot found air just above Larose’s right shoulder to hit the back of the net and give NMU the go ahead goal and seal the win.

The game was Alabama’s seventh straight loss, and kept them winless in conference play at home.

The teams will finish the series at 8:07 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 at Von Braun Center in Huntsville.