Jan. 3, 2009
Box Score
East Lancing, MI - Two goals from Derek Klassen (Whitehorse, YT) and solid netminding from freshman Scott Greenham (Addison, ON) led Alaska to a 3-1 road victory over the Spartans of Michigan State and a CCHA weekend series split.
The win on Saturday night for Alaska keeps the Blue and Gold as the only CCHA team that has recorded at least two points in every CCHA series this season.
Klassen got the scoring started in the second period as he gave the Nanooks a 1-0 lead when freshman Ron Meyers (Prince Albert, SK) took a shot that hit off the pads of MSU goalie Jeff Lerg. Klassen gathered the rebound on his right, spun around to his left, and fired the puck towards the MSU net which deflected off the skate of a Spartan defenseman and beat Lerg. Klassen’s third goal of the season came at 13:18. Meyers and Kevin Petovello (Sparwood, BC) got credit for the assists.
The Spartans would draw even though at 1-1 just seven seconds into their power play at 14:55 in the second stanza. MSU’s Tim Crowder hit a slap shot towards the net which Andrew Conboy deflected past Greenham for the equalizer.
However, it would be Joe Sova’s power play goal at 4:55 in the third period that was the deciding goal for Alaska. With Braden Walls (Calgary, AB) screening Lerg, Sova took the pass from Cody Butcher (Anchorage, AK) and hit a one time laser slap shot that found the back of the net.
Klassen, the Player of the Game, put the final nail in the MSU coffin with just 5:28 remaining in the game as he gathered the puck in the Nanooks defensive third and skated down the left side of the ice from blue line to blue line and beat Lerg near side for a 3-1 Nanook lead. Klassen’s second goal of the game was assisted by Petovello and Bryant Molle (Anchorage, AK).
There would be no late rally from MSU like the pervious night, as Alaska would win in East Lancing for the first time since Coach Dallas Ferguson skated for Alaska in 1996. The win for Alaska also snapped a seven game regular season winning streak for the Spartans over the Nanooks.
Greenham is now 3-0 in three collegiate starts in goal for the Nanooks. Conboy's marker in the second period was the first goal he allowed in 154:55, as he recorded a shutout apiece in the Brice Alaska Goal Rush and the Kendall Hockey Classic back in October.
Alaska improves its record to 10-6-4 (8-5-3-2 CCHA) and sits in sole position of third place in the CCHA. The loss drops MSU to 6-13-3 (3-9-2-2 CCHA). Alaska now travels to South Bend, IN to take on the No. 1 ranked team in the country Notre Dame for a CCHA weekend series Jan. 9-10. The puck drops at 3:35 ASKT on Jan. 9.
