Box Score Box Score
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Despite scoring the first and last goals in regulation, a miscue in overtime led to the game-winning goal for the home team as the visiting Alaska Nanooks fell 3-2 in the extra session to the Michigan State Spartans on Friday night at Munn Ice Arena.
Alaska got goals from senior defenseman
Scott Enders and sophomore
Cody Kunyk and senior goalie
Scott Greenham made 30 saves but MSU's Brett Perlini intercepted an errant attempt to clear the puck and broke the tie with the game-winning goal 3:07 of overtime.
Sophomore defenseman
Michael Quinn attempted to clear the puck from the zone but it hit junior Jarrett Granberg square in the number 17 on the back of his jersey and it fell on Perlini's stick, who backhanded it past Greenham high on his gloveside.
The Nanooks got off to a good start, scoring the game's first goal with an extra-attacker on a delayed penalty to MSU's Chris Forfar at 8:33 of the first frame. With sustained pressure, the Nanooks were able to capitalize on their extra-man advantage, when Enders beat the Spartans' Will Yanakef with assistance from senior defenseman
Cody Butcher and junior forward
Jarret Granberg. It was his first goal of the season, giving him 10 points on the year.
At 12:40, it looked like the Blue and Gold were going to double their lead, but upon review it was determined the puck had been kicked in and the would-be goal was disallowed. Immediately after, the momentum swung in the Spartans' favor as forward Brent Darnell lit the lamp twice just 35 seconds apart to give the hosts a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
Alaska got back in the game just over mid-way through the second stanza, when Kunyk scored on the power play at 13:23 to make it 2-2. Quinn and junior forward Andy Taranto helped set Kunyk up for his team-best 14th tally of the year.
Both teams had chances to take the lead in the third period but strong goaltending by Greenham and Yankeff and near misses forced the extra session. The Spartans outshot the Nanooks 5-1 in overtime before the untimely turnover led to their defeat.
For the game, Alaska was 1-for-5 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.
The teams meet an hour later on Saturday to play the series finale and the Nanooks final regular-season CCHA game of the year. The game will be televised live on Fox Sports Detroit at 4 p.m. AKST (8 p.m. EST) and tape delayed in Fairbanks on KFXF Fox 7 after the conclusion of NASCAR coverage.
