[Box Score]
FAIRBANKS, AK - The #9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish came to the Carlson Center in front of a raucous crowd and handed the Nanooks their first loss of the season, 3-2. The Irish used 35 saves from netminder Mike Johnson while Kyle Lawson had the game winning power play goal and an assist. The win moves the Irish to 5-3-1 and 2-0-1 in the CCHA while the Nanooks drop to 5-1-1 and 2-0-1 in the CCHA.
To open the game both teams played a defensive style that led to very little shots that held both teams shot less for the first three minutes of play. The Nanooks caught the first break of the game when Notre Dame's Ian Cole got caught with his hand in the cookie jar and went to the box for roughing. The Nanooks were unable to capitalize on the power play despite several scoring opportunities.
Notre Dame struck first at the 17:40 mark when Christiaan Minella beat Nanook goaltender Scott Greenham (Addison, ON) over his right shoulder, short side. Notre Dame was able to force an Alaska turnover in the neutral zone which resulted in Minella getting the puck at the blue line to give the Fighting Irish the 1-0 lead.
The second period saw four total goals scored, two by each team, in a highflying period of hockey. The Nanooks wasted no time tying the score at one when Dion Knelsen (Three Hills, AB) scored 2:08 into the period. Just a minute prior Knelsen rang a shot of the pipe but redeemed himself and threw a shot on goal that deflected off of an Irish defenseman into the net.
A little over three minutes later the Irish would respond. After back-to-back Nanooks penalties the Irish would cash in on the back of the five on three power play. Just as the first Nanooks penalty expired Billy Maday found Ryan Thang open on the far post for an easy tap in goal, and the 2-1 lead.
Alaska stormed back and tied the game on a gritty goal by freshman Chad Gehon (Kelowna, BC) at the 13:20 mark. After Gehon dug the puck out of the corner he throws a shot on net that is saved by Johnson and then picks up the puck, after a Justin Filzen (Proctor, MN) shot, and puts it behind Johnson for the 2-2 tie.
Notre Dame would score what would be the game winning goal at the 17:14 when Kyle Lawson scored the Irish's second power play goal of the game from Ian Cole and Ben Ryan.
The Nanooks came out in the third and took control but could not get the tying goal. The Nanooks outshot the Irish 16-1 in the final period and got a late power play but could not capitalize. Joe Sova (Berwyn, IL) got the best look of the period for the Nanooks but his shot from the half-wall rang off the pipe and in to the corner. With Greenham pulled Sova got another chance but his shot was blocked as time expired, sealing the Irish win.
For the game the Nanooks outshot the Irish 37-15 while also holding an 80-31 advantage in total shot attempts. The Irish defense blocked 24 shots and converted on two of their three power play opportunity to swing the tide of the game.
The Nanooks will return to action tomorrow night when they finish their series against the Fighting Irish at the Carlson Center. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:05 p.m. AKT.
