Dec. 7, 2007
Box Score
OXFORD, OH -- Junior defenseman Tyler Eckford got a power-play goal in the first period to give the Alaska Nanooks the early lead, but it would not hold up as No. 1 ranked Miami's Ryan Jones notched a hat trick to lead the RedHawks to a 3-1 victory Friday night.
There was some early rust exposed as the `Hawks allowed Eckford a 5-on-3 power-play goal. Eckford's marker came off of assists from junior Adam Naglich and freshman Dustin Sather. After the first 20 minutes the score was 1-0 in favor of the Nanooks. It was Naglich's team-leading tenth assist of the season.
The RedHawks opened the second period with a bang though. Captain Ryan Jones was able to put the equalizer in 25 seconds into the period. They nearly scored again with about 15 minutes left in the period: as the RedHawks began to encroach upon the Nanook goal, Sather committed a hook that likely saved Alaska from giving up the go-ahead goal.
"I think our captains and our seniors do a pretty good job in the locker room preparing the team for battle," said Miami head coach Enrico Blasi. "We made a couple of reminders in the locker room in between periods, but nothing out of the ordinary."
Going into the second, the Nanooks had held Miami to a season low three shots on goal. By the midway mark of the second period, the Hawks had already managed to get six times that number while the Nanooks, who had five shots on goal after the first, had only added two more to that total.
"I think we did a good job," said Alaska head Coach Doc Del Castillo. "We blocked a lot of shots, which I think had something to do with their shot total at the end of the first period. I think that if we don't block those shots then they have 10, 11,12,13 shots which is about what they're getting every period."
The Nanooks failed to capitalize on a power play resulting from a Miami bench penalty. The Nanooks had crashed the Miami net, but were unable to get the puck past Miami netminder Jeff Zatkoff. The second ranked goaltender in the nation, Zatkoff stood strong in the face of a fierce Nanook attack and was able to fend off shot after shot until the `Hawks were able to regain control and clear the puck down the ice.
After two periods of play, the score was knotted up at one a piece.
Alaska got its chances in the third though to regain the lead. During a 3-on-1 break away, they narrowly missed a golden opportunity as they were unable to keep control of the puck. Meanwhile at the other end, junior goalie Chad Johnson was solid between the pipes, frustrating the RedHawks offensive onslaught.
Johnson was able to stonewall the RedHawks nearly every time it looked as though they might be able to poke it through for the go-ahead goal as time after time the RedHawks would crash the net and each time Johnson would answer with another impressive save.
"I think Chad gave us an opportunity to win, and we didn't capitalize on that opportunity," said Del Castillo. "Unfortunately there's one major difference maker on the ice, and that's the reason you win a lot of hockey games.
After a tripping penalty against Miami's Garry Steffes, the Nanooks were finally able to generate some more offense, but Zatkoff made two consecutive saves to prevent the Nanooks from taking their second lead of the night. The 'Hawks were able to kill the penalty, and kept the Nanooks in check.
As the clock ticked down the pressure and intensity continued to build on the ice. With 4:54 left in the game Jones gave Miami the edge and showed the Nanooks why he and the RedHawks are the best team in all the land when he sniped the go-ahead goal past Johnson. Trailing by just a goal, the Nanooks refused to just roll over.
Both teams were whistled for contact to the head minors giving way to a two-minute span of four-on-four hockey. Alaska tried to put shot after shot by Zatkoff, but it was to no avail as the man between the pipes would have none of that, quickly dispatching each shot.
The RedHawks were able to put the game out of reach in the final minute of the game as Jones put in his third goal of the night with 32 seconds left in the game. The hat trick was Jones' second of the season.
"They did a good job blocking shots," said Blasi. "We certainly had our opportunities, but Johnson played well. I think tomorrow night we'll have to be ready to execute."
With 34 saves, Johnson was named the Perani Cup Third Star, while Naglich was awarded Toyota Player of the Game.
