Dec. 28, 2007
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FAIRBANKS, AK-Junior defenseman Tyler Eckford gave the Alaska Nanooks their only lead of the game, but a rough night of penalty killing (2-for-5) and a three-goal third period by the visiting Alaska Anchorage Seawolves lifted the visitors to a 4-2 victory Friday night and their second consecutive Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup.
With the rights to the Governor's Cup on the line, the Nanooks came out gunning and controlled the opening 20 minutes of play. For the third consecutive meeting between the teams, the Nanooks struck first. Alaska forward Braden Walls sent a pass from the low corner to the left point where Eckford one-timed a shot past UAA's John Olthius at 10:10 of the first period for his sixth goal of the season. Freshman forward Dustin Sather assisted on the play, extending his scoring streak to a team-best five games. The Blue and Gold held a 13-7 shot advantage as the teams headed into the first intermission.
The Seawolves found their answer when Craig Parkinson tickled the twine on the power-play at 4:18 of the second knotting the game at 1-1, just three seconds before Nanook defenseman Brandon Gawryletz was to return to the ice after serving an interference minor.
UAA grabbed it first lead (2-1) of the contest at 2:44 of the third frame on a power-play strike from Kevin Clark, and would double the advantage on Crowder's power-play marker at 8:51. Josh Lunden added an insurance goal with an even-strength lamp-lighter for the Seawolves at 12:48.
Sather scored a late power-play marker for the Nanooks, backhanding a pass from sophomore Dion Knelsen past Olthius to earn his second point of the night at 15:26. Eckford contributed in the play for his second point of the game and team-leading sixteenth of the season.
Senior goalie Wylie Rogers fell to 3-5-2 with a 30-save effort.
Special teams proved key in the third game of the series: the Nanooks went 1-for-7 on the power-play, while UAA was 3-for-5.
The teams will meet for the final time Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at the Carlson Center.
