Jan. 25, 2008
Box Score |
Photo Gallery 
FAIRBANKS, AK- Alaska were far from outplayed by the nation's No. 2 team, but the Nanooks were left to wonder what might have been as they could not find a way past Miami goalkeeper Jeff Zatkoff, as the RedHawks ran out of the Carlson Center as 2-0 winners on Friday night.
Zatkoff was in inspired form for Miami (24-3-0, 16-3-0), specifically at the beginning of the final period, when he turned away a number of golden scoring chances for the Nanooks to help the RedHawks cling to what was only a one-goal lead at the time.
Justin Mercier opened the scoring for the visitors, dispossessing Alaska's Jeff Penner deep in own zone before slotting the puck high into the net past Wylie Rogers' glove. The Blue and Gold would get their chances to equalize, but it was Miami's Nino Musitelli who would grab the game's second and final goal, beating Rogers' midway through the third period.
With both teams defenses disciplined and well organized, scoring chances were at a premium in a cagey opening period. In all fairness, the Nanooks were on the back foot for much of the first stanza, but were able to keep the RedHawks off the scoreboard thanks to the efforts of defensemen T.J. Campbell, Tyler Eckford and goaltender Rogers.
Mercier would get the visitors best chance of the opening 20 minutes, getting on the end of a Carter Camper shot to tip it towards goal. Rogers could only watch, but breathed a sigh of relief as the puck trickled wide.
Landon Novotney then went close for the Nanooks on a counterattack led by Dion Knelsen. Streaking up the right wing, Knelsen centered for Novotney, who somehow got a shot on frame after spinning 360 degrees around a defender. Zatkoff turned the initial shot away, and the Redhawks cleared the puck just before Novotney could tap in the rebound.
All the Nanooks' hard work, however, was undone just two minutes into the second period. Jeff Penner made the cardinal sin of turning the puck over in his own defensive zone, as Mercier robbed the freshman of the puck between the circles. With just Rogers to beat, the junior left-winger made no mistake.
It was the first time in four periods the RedHawks had beaten Rogers, dating back to the two teams' last meeting in December.
The Nanooks almost got an immediate response, as Sather, streaking up the right wing on an odd-man rush, fed a tantalizing pass to Dion Knelsen directly in front of goal. It just needed a touch, but the puck trickled just inches in front of Knelsen, and the chance was gone.
Down a goal, Alaska would turn up the pressure for the rest of the second period, outshooting Miami 9-4 in the period. Knelsen sent in a monster drive from the point, but Zatkoff was able to get his body in front of the shot. Penner then nearly caught the goaltender offguard with a disguised backhand shot, but the junior was able to get his pads down just in time.
Novotney and Molle were the next to try their luck, with the former attempting a shot from distance while the latter opted for a wraparound after skating behind the goal. Both attempts, however, were stuffed by Zatkoff.
After weathering the Nanook storm, the Redhawks should have doubled their advantage midway through the second frame. Trapped against the boards out on the right wing, a great pass from Andy Miele all the way across ice found Mitch Ganzak in acres of space on the left. Ganzak seemed certain to score as he cut inside past Rogers, but the goaltender somehow found a way to force the puck wide of the far post.
Not going down without a fight, Alaska came out firing on all cylinders to open the final period. After Rogers made an early save, left winger Nathan Lawrence led the Blue and Gold on a three-on-two counterattack. Skating down the left, Lawrence cut the puck back for Vanoosten, who was trailing the play down the center. Controlling the puck, Vanoosten then ripped a shot across Zatkoff's goal, only to see his effort bounce back off the far post.
Novotney would then create another golden opportunity, finding himself one-on-one with the goaltender after he intercepted a pass deep in the attacking zone. Zatkoff made himself big, however, stuffing the freshman's shot.
The junior netminder would stuff Novotney again just seconds later, keeping out his backhand from point blank range following a scramble in front of goal. The freshman would then try his luck from the slot, but Zatkoff somehow kept out his effort as well as Knelsen's rebound.
Out of nowhere, the RedHawks stunned Alaska with a second. Taking control of a loose puck near center ice, Musitelli brought the puck up the ice up the right side. After miscuing on his first shot, Musitelli appeared to be heading behind the goal, only to lift a quick shot up past Rogers on the glove side.
Alaska pressed for a lifeline, as Eckford, Naglich, and Penner all had shots on goal, but none could find a way past Zatkoff.
The loss drops Alaska to 5-14-4 on the season, and to 5-11-3 in the CCHA.
The Nanooks get their second crack at No. 2 Miami on Saturday, as the teams rematch at the Carlson Center tomorrow starting at 7:05 p.m.
