March 7, 2008
Box Score
OMAHA, NE - A three-goal second-period surge by the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks appeared to put the game out of reach for the Alaska Nanooks. That was before a pair of power-play goals by freshman defenseman Jeff Penner would pull the Blue and Gold within striking distance in the final frame, but the visitors just couldn't find the equalizer in the end, falling 4-3 in the opening game of the First Round CCHA Playoff series Thursday night at the Qwest Center.
The Mavericks took the early lead getting a power-play goal from Brandon Scero at 11:55 of the first period to make it 1-0 while Alaska's senior captain and defenseman T.J. Campbell was sitting in the penalty box for an obstruction-tripping minor.
Alaska would follow in its hosts' footsteps early in the second period, when rookie left wing Dustin Sather lifted the puck past UNO's Jerad Kaufman to even the tally at one at 6:37. Sophomore Dion Knelsen's clever pass to freshman Landon Novotney at the low right circle gave him a point blank shot on Kaufman. He was able to make the initial save but could not control the rebound which found its way to Sather's tape and likewise to the back of the Mavericks' net.
The Mavericks JJ Koehler responded for the home team just over two minutes later to regain the lead and then Tomas Klempa and Jeric Agosta scored back-to-back goals just 75 seconds apart to seemingly put the game out of reach with a three-goal advantage.
Trailing by a triad of goals, Alaska continued to pour on the pressure offensively: a tactic that would pay off in the final seconds of the period. With UNO's Jeric Agosta sitting in the sin-bin, Sather collected the puck below the goal line and found Penner in the high slot who sent a wrist shot on goal where senior left wing Aaron Lee was camped screening Kaufman's view of Penner's shot and the puck, which sailed under his glove at 19:40.
Coming back from the second intermission the momentum continued to favor the Nanooks who were sill skating with a man-advantage. Penner provided another answer for the Nanooks, streaking to the net between the circles and making the most of a pin-point Dion Knelsen feed from below the Mavericks' goal line. With his second goal of the night just 50 seconds into the final set, the first-year rearguard put the Nanooks back into the contest. However in the end, it wouldn't be enough to overcome the stubborn Mavs and Kaufman, who finished the night with 28 saves.
Despite the loss, senior goalie Wylie Rogers had entered the evening just nine saves shy of the single-season record for saves in a season, a mark he set as a freshman (2004-05) with 818 saves in 31 games. With 22 saves Thursday night, Rogers has surpassed his previous mark with a new best of 831 saves and at least one game left to play.
The two teams will face off again Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. CST. Should the Nanooks win Saturday's contest, a third and deciding game will be played on Sunday at 7:05 p.m. CST.
