Jan. 5, 2007
Box Score
COLUMBUS, OH - Alaska Nanooks head coach Tavis MacMillan correctly predicted the outcome of Friday's game in a pre-game interview.
"I said that the key to tonight's game was going to be the special teams and the goaltending," MacMillan said. "They were better in both areas and that's why they won.
The Ohio State went 4 for 6 with the man-advantage and got 31 saves from rookie netminder Joseph Palmer to defeat Alaska, 6-2, at the Value City Arena Friday night in Central Collegiate Hockey Association action.
Alaska started the game strong getting on the board first for the 11th time this season, with a power-play marker from junior captain Kyle Greentree (Victoria, BC). Senior center Curtis Fraser took the draw on the face-off and slid it back to Greentree who sent it along the blueline to junior defenseman Darcy Campbell. Campbell sent it right back and Greentree nailed a one-timer from the point past Palmer for his 16th goal of the season.
OSU's Tyson Strachan answered back for the Buckeyes at 10:53 of the first period and the score would remain knotted at a goal apiece as the teams headed into the first intermission.
Coming back at the start of the second period, OSU was whistled for a penalty setting up Alaska's second goal of the game. The Nanooks all-freshman line made the most of the opportunity as left wing Jeff Lee (Calgary, AB) got his first collegiate goal with the help of brothers Dion and Brandon Knelsen (Three Hills, AB). The power-play goal at 2:45 of the second period gave Alaska it's second lead of the contest.
"They were our best line tonight," said MacMillan. "Jeff had a great game and he was finally rewarded for his hard work. Unfortunately, we need other guys to play well too."
Proving its resilience, OSU found an answer and tied the game again. Kyle Hood made it 2-2 with the first even-strength tally of the night just 27 seconds later.
Before the period was over the Buckeyes were finally able to take the lead. With Brandon Knelsen sitting in the penalty box for tripping, Tom Fritsche fired the puck from the goal line, which narrowly beat Alaska's goalie Chad Johnson (Calgary, AB) under his right pad to make it 3-2.
Despite trailing the Buckeyes on the scoreboard the Nanooks came out strong in the third period and outshot their opponent 15-7. However, OSU had greater success with half as many shots and managed to turn on the red light three more times before the game would expire.
OSU outshot Alaska 33-30 and got goals from six different skaters, while Johnson finished the game with 24 saves.
The loss dropped the Nanooks to 7-8-4 overall and 5-5-3 in the CCHA, moving them into sole possession of seventh place with 13 points. The Buckeyes improved to 8-9-4 overall and 6-6-3 in the CCHA and put them in a three-way tie for fourth place in the conference standings with Lake Superior State and Michigan State, who Alaska visits next weekend in East Lansing.
The teams will play a rematch on Sunday at 11:05 p.m. AKST. The game will be televised (tape delayed) following football on KFXF Fox 7. It can be heard live on KSUA 91.5 FM and KYSC Kiss 96.9 FM as well as on the internet at http://ksua.uaf.edu.
