Feb. 16, 2008
Box Score
FAIRBANKS, AK- For nearly 50 minutes on Saturday night, it appeared that Alaska's five seniors would get the perfect send off in their final regular season game at the Carlson Center. For over two and a half periods, Landon Novotney's opening goal seemed like it would hold up, as goaltender Wylie Rogers and the Nanook defense desperately clung to the 1-0 lead against nationally-ranked Notre Dame.
Unfortunately, the Irish finally found a way past Rogers, as a Mark Van Guilder located a pinpoint shot just inside the netminder's left-hand post to give the visitors a share of the spoils. Alaska was forced to settle for a 1-1 draw, though it does give the Blue and Gold a valuable point towards its hunt for home ice in the opening round of the playoffs.
The game could have been a much different affair, as Alaska (8-17-5, 8-14-4 CCHA) saw an early Aaron Lee goal ruled out after it was determined that a Nanook had contacted the goaltender prior to the shot.
Notre Dame (21-10-3, 14-7-3 CCHA), meanwhile, found senior Rogers in inspired form, as his forty saves on the night gave him a new school record for saves in a season with 820. The Irish would also see three shots rattle off the pipes, as for much of the contest, it looked like it wasn't their night.
After being frustrated by the organized Irish defense for much of Friday's contest, Alaska would need just eight minutes to find the net on Saturday. An Adam Naglich shot from the blue line deflected off a Notre Dame defender, but set up perfectly for an oncoming Tyler Eckford. As Eckford wound up, everyone in the arena expected a trademark blast to come flying in, but instead the junior cleverly squared the puck for Novotney. With the Irish defense caught by surprise, Novotney, with his back to goal, sent a no-look backhand flying past Pearce's glove and into the net.
It was Novotney's team-leading 14th tally on the season, and the 21st assist for Eckford.
The home side was flying now, and a fired-up Rogers would then keep his team in front with two remarkable saves; the pick of which was made with the Fairbanks native lying on his back, reaching up to snag a bouncing puck that was headed towards the goal . The netminder would then stuff Evan Rankin on a quick wraparound attempt from point blank range.
As the period wound down, the Irish turned up the pressure, but Alaska held firm, though they were glad to hear the buzzer sound to give them respite from the Notre Dame attack.
Both teams would have golden opportunities in a hard-fought second period. Van Guilder would give the Nanook faithful a good scare, as his shot beat Rogers only to bounce harmlessly back off the pipe.
Dion Knelsen would then go close for Alaska, as it attempted to take advantage of a brief five-on-three power play chance. Knelsen collected Adam Naglich's pass near the goal line before sending a shot whistling just across the face of goal from a difficult angle on the right wing.
Naglich would then come within inches of a sensational second for Alaska, turning Irish defenseman Kyle Lawson inside out with some sharp skating, only to flash his backhand shot just wide with just Pearce to beat.
Alaska attacks became increasingly few and far between, however, as the Irish pushed forward in search of an equalizer. Christian Hanson would be the next to be denied by the pipes, drilling his shot off the base of the left-hand post from just inside the circle on the right wing.
Rogers then laid out to deny Ryan Thang, diving to his right to glove the sophomore's deflected shot. Defenseman Ian Cole then completed the Irish hat-trick, as he saw his slapshot from the point bounce off the pipes on Rogers' stick side.
The Nanooks defense, led bravely by T.J. Campbell and the outstanding Eckford, could not hold out forever, however, as Van Guilder finally rippled the net for the visitors. The Irish captain whipped a shot through a crowd in front of Rogers' net, and the puck somehow evaded everyone before tucking into the side netting.
Eckford would get the Blue and Gold's best chance in the dying stages, but was unable to tuck away his own rebound after Pearce had saved his initial shot.
The Nanooks now conclude their regular season with a trip to Lake Superior next weekend. Alaska then has a bye weekend on Feb. 28-March 1, as they wait to find out where they will be and who they will play in the first round of the CCHA playoffs on March 7-9.
