Box Score
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - Junior forward Adam Henderson scored the game-tying power-play goal in the third period to force overtime. After nothing was decided in the extra session he scored the only goal in the ensuing shootout to give the Alaska Nanooks two points in their Central Collegiate Hockey Association match-up against the #12/13 Ferris State Bulldogs on Friday night at Ewigleben Ice Arena.
Junior forward Jarret Granberg led all players and was the game's Perani First Star with a goal and two assists in the game that officially counts as a 4-4 overtime tie. The Nanooks also got multi-point nights from junior Nik Yaremchuk (1-1--2) and senior defenseman Scott Enders (0-2--2), while the Blue and Gold got 31 saves from senior netminder Scott Greenham.
Yaremchuk opened the scoring to give Alaska the early advantage, when he converted on a feed from Granberg and junior defenseman Kaare Odegard at 7:28 of the first period.
Alaska carried the lead into the locker room but it was short-lived heading into the second period as the home team's Jordie Johnston evened the tally just 23 seconds in.
Rookie Nolan Youngum gave the Nanooks back their lead at the 6:06 with an unassisted even-strength goal for his second of the year. FSU's goalie Taylor Nelson vacated the crease to clear the puck but Youngmun beat him to it and sent it toward the empty cage, where it deflected off a Bulldog defenseman's skate and over the goal line.
The Bulldogs answered back to tie the game at 2-2 with a power-play goal off the stick of Garrett Thompson at 7:58 but Granberg made it 3-2 at 12:06, when he beat Nelson with a power-play tally for Alaska. Enders and Yaremchuk assisted on the score.
FSU's Justin Buzzeo notched the fifth goal of the middle frame, tying the game 3-3 at 13:16.
The third period saw the Bulldogs take their first lead of the game at 7:20, when Kyle Bonis beat Greenham to make it 4-3 but it was short-lived as Henderson buried the equalizer at 9:38 to make it 4-4 and neither team would score again in regulation.
Nothing was decided in the five-minute overtime period, when Alaska outshot its hosts 3-0, but it was Henderson who carried the momentum from his goal into the shootout and made the most of his oportunity with the only goal of six shooters.
For the game, Alaska was 2-for-3 with the man advantage, while the Bulldogs cashed in on 1-of-3 chances. The Nanooks outshot their host 40-35 in the contest, marking the second straight game they registered as many shots on their opponent and just the third time this season to equal the mark.
The teams return to action to play the series finale tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m.
