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Alaska vs. Lake Superior State Series Notes]
FAIRBANKS, AK - The No. 10 Alaska Nanooks continue their two-week road trip this weekend, when they take on Lake Superior State (Nov. 20-21) in Central Collegiate Hockey Association action. Alaska is 1-1 on the road this season after splitting last weekend's tilt against Bowling Green in Ohio. Here are this week's need to know notes about the LSSU series and Alaska Nanooks hockey:
• Alaska trails Lake Superior State 11-23-5 in the all-time series. The Nanooks are 2-2-1 in the last five meetings with the Lakers and 2-4-4 in the last 10. All four of those losses happened at the site of this weekend's encounters - Taffy Abel Arena.
• Last season when the teams met in Fairbanks just after the Thanksgiving holiday, the Nanooks proved rude hosts winning the first game 4-1 and then settling for a 1-1 OT tie in the rematch. However, they have not won a game at Taffy Abel Arena since Nov. 13, 2004 and have been swept on each of their last two visits to Sault Ste. Marie.
• SR F
Dion Knelsen leads Nanook players with four assists in six career games against the Lakers. Two more Nanooks, which include JR forwards
Derek Klassen and
Dustin Sather have a goal and an assist in four games against LSSU, while SO F
Carlo Finucci has 1-1-2 in two games.
• The first road game of the season proved a little rough for Alaska as they lost for just the second time of the 2009-10 season Friday night to BGSU. They were quick to avenge the let down with a 5-3 victory the next night.
• Alaska's five-goal production in Saturday's victory marked just the second time this season they tallied a hand-full of markers. The Nanooks last scored as many goals in a 5-1 win over Mercyhurst in just the second game of the season.
• Six of FR F
Andy Taranto's 10 points have come on the power play. Two of his three goals and four of his seven assists were acquired while Alaska skated with a man-advantage. With 2-5-7 in six CCHA games, he is tied for the lead for conference rookie scoring and tied for third overall among CCHA skaters for power-play points. He also leads Alaska with two game-winning goals.
• With 29 goals through 10 games this season, the Blue and Gold have already struck for almost 40 percent of the total goals scored a year ago (74).
