[Box Score]
FAIRBANKS, AK - The Alaska Nanooks remained unbeaten on the season with a thrilling 3-2 overtime win over the Ferris State Bulldogs on Halloween night. Sophomore right wing Ron Meyers (Prince Albert, SK) netted the game winning goal with 15 seconds remaining to push the Nanooks to 5-0-1 and 2-0-0 in the CCHA.
The Nanooks and Bulldogs battled to a 1-1 tie at the end of the first intermission. Early on it was the Alaska defense that was smothering Ferris State, holding the Bulldogs without a shot for the first 7:37 of play. Alaska also held Ferris State to just six first-period shots.
The Blue and Gold cracked the scoreboard first at the 17:32 mark when freshman Andy Taranto (Woodridge, IL) notched his second goal of the season. The goal came on the power play with assists from Nik Yaremchuk (St. Albert, AB) and Dion Knelsen (Three Hills, AB).
Ferris State battled back and scored on their second power-play opportunity at 19:21 to tie the score at one. Aaron Lewicki put home a shot from the right point from Travis Ouellette and Zach Redmond. Lewicki's tally snapped a perfect season for the Nanooks penalty kill. Alaska had killed the previous 19 attempts before surrendering the goal, a span of just over 329 minutes.
The second period was a special team's affair as six different infractions were called in the 20 minute period. The Nanooks jumped on the board in their second power-play opportunity when Joe Sova (Berwyn, IL) slipped a backhander by goaltender Pat Nagle for a 2-1 lead. The play started when Scott Enders (Edmonton, AB) worked the puck to Taranto who pushed a shot off of Nagle and right to an open Sova for the goal.
Just like in the first period the Bulldogs answered. Junior Ryan Hohl (Northville, MI) was whistled for elbowing to give the Bulldogs a prime opportunity. Mike Embach beat Alaska netminder Scott Greenham (Addison, ON) five-hole to tie the score at two during the man- advantage. Embach won a battle along the board and stepped right out in front and shoved it between Greenham's pad. It appeared as though he made the stop, but the puck slipped through and trickled over the goal line to even the score.
The Nanooks committed four infractions in the second period alone, while Ferris State committed two. Ferris State was able to manage three shots while the Nanooks got five shots on goaltender Nagle.
Both teams played to a scoreless third period that only resulted in 14 total shots and each team getting a power play. The Nanooks could only muster eight shots while the Bulldogs got six shots on net, which included only one on the power plays.
Each team came out and played a defensive game in the overtime period and each traded few scoring opportunities. Ferris State only got one shot on goaltender Greenham and the Nanooks only managed to get two shots on the net, the second being the tie breaker.
With under half a minute to play in the game, Meyers gave a beautiful stick lift to a Ferris State defender, stole the puck and beat Nagle top shelf for the overtime victory. Meyer's goal proved to be the only even-strength goal of the contest as he saved his best shot for last.
The Nanooks outshot the Bulldogs 34-24 in the game and also took command of the faceoff circle winning 32 of the 52 faceoffs (62%). Justin Filzen led the Nanooks with 11 of 15 faceoff wins (73%).
Between the pipes, Greenham stayed undefeated as he had 22 saves on the night. Head Coach Dallas Ferguson also remained unbeaten against Ferris State as he is 6-0 all time against the Bulldogs.
Taranto had another solid game for the Blue and Gold as he recorded multiple points (1g, 1a) and six different Nanooks found the score sheet.
Nagle took the loss in net making 31 saves in defeat.
The Nanooks will return to action next weekend when the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will visit the Carlson Center for a two-game series. Games are set for November 6 and 7 both starting a 7:05 p.m. AKT.
