Box Score FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Junior defenseman
Scott Enders had a three-point night, which included back-to-back goals in the third period, and junior goalie
Scott Greenham made 29 saves en route to his 13th win of the season to lead the Alaska Nanooks past the Michigan State Spartans 4-1 on Friday night at the Carlson Center.
With the win, Alaska moves into a two-way tie for fifth place in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings, while the Spartans remain in 10th place.
Nanook forward
Carlo Finucci opened the game scoring when he beat MSU's Will Yanakeff with a slapshot from the point at 6:26. Enders got the play started by sending the puck deep in the Spartans zone and around the boards. Finucci collected it near the halfboards and cycled it with his linemate and former Spartan
Adam Henderson before skating to the top of the left circle and beating his defender with a reverse spin move to get the clear shot that sailed over Yanakeff's left shoulder to make it 1-0. The early advantage was a reward for their hard work and offensive pressure as they outshot their guests 13-4 in the first frame.
The momentum shifted into the Spartans favor in the second period but despite their 14-9 shot advantage and a power-play opportunity, Alaska's defense held strong and they would not solve Greenham.
The teams combined for four goals in the final 20 minutes, with Taranto doubling the home team's advantage before Enders scored twice to make it 4-0.
Taranto's power-play tally was scored on the doorstep at 7:32, when he took a backhanded feed from below the goalline off the stick of
Colton Beck, skated into the slot and flicked the puck past Yanakeff for the 2-0 lead.
Enders made it 3-0 just 51 seconds later with a shot from the point that surprised the Spartans' netminder at 8:23. Senior forward
Derek Klassen poked the puck out of a scrum near the right halfboards to Gens at the point to setup the even-strenghth score.
The Blue and Gold got their fourth goal via Enders second goal of the evening and third point of the game at 14:10. Junior
Justin Filzen won the offensive zone draw back to Enders just above the right faceoff circle, where he again beat Yanakeff with a solid slapshot.
Try as they might, the Nanooks could not keep the Spartans off the board. A wide Dean Chelios shot bounced off the bakcboards and made it's way to Daultan Leveille's stick near the right post. He took the gift and slid it through the five-hole at 18:28 to ruin Greenham's ninth career shutout bid.
For the game, the Nanooks outshot the Spartans 32-20 and were 1-for-3 on the power-play, while killing both of their guests man-advantage opportunities.
Alaska will host the Spartans at 7:05 p.m. Saturday for their CCHA regular-season finale. As a special promotion, the Nanooks are hosting Military Appreciation for Saturday's game, and anyone with a valid military ID will receive free admission. Tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis until the point of sellout and tickets are limited to one per valid military ID.
