[
Box Score]
FAIRBANKS, AK - The Alaska Nanooks got a goal in regulation from junior defenseman
Joe Sova and shootout goals from senior captain
Kevin Petovello and freshman left wing
Colton Beck to tie the visiting Northern Michigan Wildcats 1-1 in overtime and beat them 2-1 in the shootout for two points in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings Friday night.
NMU came out gunning, putting the offensive pressure on the Nanooks from the drop of the puck and controlling the opening minutes of the game; however, the Blue and Gold countered the 'Cats attack and were the first to strike. Sova one-timed a backdoor feed from Petovello past NMU's Reid Ellingson at 13:55 to make it 1-0. Rookie center
Cody Kunyk assisted on the power-play marker.
The Nanooks maintained their one-goal lead through the middle frame, as neither team could find the back of the net. Alaska outshot NMU 10-7 in the second period for a 21-14 advantage through the first 40 minutes of play.
With under five minutes remaining in the game, it looked as though the home team would go the distance. The 'Cats Tyler Gron had other things in mind as he skated through the left circle in a 2-on-1 rush, faked a pass to his teammate and then sent a wrist shot past
Scott Greenham's shoulder for the equalizer at 16:11.
Both teams had their chances to break the tie, but neither could find their game-winning answer so the contest officially ended as a tie and went to a shootout to determine which squad got the extra point.
Petovello went first for Alaska, making good on his chance. NMU's Greger Hansen followed but Greenham denied his attempt. Senior
Ryan Hohl went second for the Nanooks but could not get the puck past Ellingson. his counterpart, Gron, beat Greenham for a second time to even the shootout score, but Beck capitalized on his chance to regain the advantage (2-1) and Greenham poke-checked the puck away from NMU's Brian Nugent for the win and extra point in the league standings.
The Nanooks finished the contest 1-for-5 on the power play and denied all five of NMU's chances. The tie extended Alaska's winless streak against NMU to 11 games (0-6-5) although they have won three of the last four shootouts against the 'Cats.
The teams play a rematch and series finale on Saturday at 7:35, when the Blue and Gold will look for their first win over NMU since a 4-1 victory on Nov. 30, 2007.
