March 14, 2009
Box Score
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Saturday night it felt like déjà vu for the Alaska Nanooks as the visiting Ohio State Buckeyes scored early in the first period and never trailed, much like the teams’ second encounter of the regular season in late January. The Nanooks fell 4-2, leveling the weekend quarterfinal series at one game apiece and now play a do-or-die third game with OSU on Sunday.
Alaska got a power-play goal from rookie defenseman Scott Enders and an unassisted short-handed tally from junior center Dion Knelsen but could not match the Buckeyes’ potent offense. Also checking in on the scoresheet for the Nanooks were forwards Brandon Knelsen and Kevin Petovello with assists on Enders goal. Senior netminder Chad Johnson made 25 saves in the loss.
OSU got two goals from Kyle Reed, a goal apiece from Shane Sims and C.J. Severyn, while goalie Dustin Carlson
Reed opened the scoring at 4:23 of the first and sims doubled the Nanooks deficit at 15:26 to give the Buckeyes a 2-0 lead after one. The squads traded goals in the second stanza, with Reed netting his second of the game at 11:22 before Enders cut the margin to two goals at 13:22.
Coming back from the second intermission, Alaska would draw within one goal just 26 seconds into the third frame. Knelsen put pressure on the puck deep in the Buckeyes’ zone, and it paid off as he got a step on three OSU defenders for a one-on-one shot with Carlson, who he beat shorthanded to make it 3-2.
That marker gave the Nanooks a spark of energy, but the visitors managed to douse it just over four minutes later to regain their two-goal cushion. With less than two minutes to play Alaska pulled Johnson to start their fifth power play of the evening with a two-man advantage. However, Carlson and the Buckeyes thwarted their efforts to triumph in the game and force a deciding Sunday game.
Alaska outshot OSU, 33-29. The Blue and Gold was 1-of-7 on the power play, while the Buckeyes were 1-for-5.
The winner of the game between the Blue and Gold (16-14-6) and the No. 14 (23-13-4), set for 6:05 p.m. Sunday at the Carlson Center, earns a spot in the CCHA Championship semifinals at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit next weekend.
