Jan. 26, 2007
Box Score
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Alaska Nanooks scored four straight power-play goals to overcome a one-goal deficit en route to a 5-2 victory Friday evening at the Bowling Green State University Ice Arena.
The win snapped a nine-game losing streak that had begun with a 6-4 loss to the Falcons on Dec. 9 at the Carlson Center.
Alaska came out strong and was rewarded getting on the scoreboard first just five minutes into the contest. Sophomore left wing Trevor Hyatt (Anchorage, AK) grabbed a rebound off a shot by senior center Lucas Burnett (Rossland, BC) and put it past the Falcon's goalie Jimmy Sprat to take the early lead. Junior defenseman Darcy Campbell (Airdrie, AB) tallied a helper on the play.
Hyatt's goal was the lone tally of the first period as the Nanooks were sharp defensively setting a season record for fewest shots allowed in a period as the Falcons got just one shot off on Alaska's netminder Chad Johnson (Calgary, AB).
To the Nanooks dismay the Falcons' finally put the puck on net and beat Johnson just 50 seconds into the second stanza, capitalizing on their first shot of the period.
The very next shift BGSU's Tommy Dee intercepted a pass and skated in on Johnson uncontested, beating him stick side at 1:23 of the second stanza. Wylie Rogers (Fairbanks, AK) was sent in to game in relief of Johnson and sparked the Nanooks defensively.
Sophomore Braden Walls turned up the offense for the Nanooks at the other end and got them back in the game, netting the game-tying goal while skating with a man advantage at 9:12. Sophomore Adam Naglich (Las Vegas, NV) and senior Curtis Fraser (Surrey, BC) assisted on the play. The score remained deadlocked as the teams headed to the second intermission.
Coming back in the third period the Nanooks got a golden opportunity as the Falcons were whistled for four straight penalties, including three in a three-minute span, which gave the Nanooks two separate five-on-three opportunities. They made the most of it, scoring three unanswered power-play markers to take the lead for good and secure their first victory in 10 games.
Fraser lit the lamp twice to break the deadlock, getting back-to-back power-play goals 49 seconds apart. Fraser was camped at the right goal post, where Naglich found him with a pass from below the goal line at 4:23 and then Walls found him in the same spot at 5:12 of the third period.
Alaska's final tally came at 14:30 of the final frame, when senior blueliner Nathan Fornataro (Calgary, AB) fired a wrist shot from the point and turned on the red lamp. Sophomore defenseman Tyler Eckford (Langley, BC) and freshman forward Brandon Knelsen (Three Hills, AB) notched assists on the play.
Alaska fired a season-high 42 shots, while holding BGSU to just 18 shots in the entire contest.
The teams will re-match tomorrow night at the BGSU Ice Arena. Opening face-off is set for 7:05 p.m. KFXF Fox 7 in Fairbanks will televise the action live from Ohio.
