Box Score KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Nolan Kaiser's power play goal five minutes into the third period was all
Sean Cahill and the Alaska Nanooks needed, as the senior goaltender made 34 to extend the No. 16/RV Nanook's perfect start to the season, in a 1-0 win over Western Michigan on Friday.
Sean Cahill played exceptionally well in goal, as he stopped all 34 shots he faced, including 13 in a frantic third period to earn his first shutout of the season. Cahill has now produced back-to-back standout performances, as he made 40 saves in a win against Penn State last weekend.
Alaska (5-0-0) was 0-for-5 on the man advantage until Kaiser found the back of the net for the first time this season, and the second in his career.
Colton Parayko and
Peter Krieger earned the assists on Kaiser's goal.
Following the Nanook breakthrough, the Broncos (1-4-1) bombarded the Nanook goal, but Cahill was able to turn away every chance. The crucial moments came late in the third as a Western Michigan power play yielded four shots on goal, all of which Cahill was able to spurn aside. Then, moments later, as Alaska pressed for a goal that would put the game out of Western's reach, Cahill stopped a breakaway chance from Colton Hargrove, to seal the second shutout of his career.
The teams played out an entertaining, but scoreless first period, with the Nanooks outshooting the Broncos, 17-11 over the 20 minutes. The team's combined to go 0-for-5 on the power play in the frame.
Neither team scored in the second period, again with the Nanooks leading the shots, 10-8. Alaska carried that momentum into the last session, leading to Kaiser's goal, at 5:06 in the third period.
Overall, the Nanooks finished 1-7 on the power play, but killed off all four of Western Michigan's power play chances as they were rigid in the defensive zone.
Cahill narrowly outdueled the Broncos' Lukas Hafner in goal, as the Western Michigan stopper made 31 saves on 32 attempts.
Alaska will look to continue its winning streak tomorrow, again facing off against the Broncos at 3:05 p.m. AKT at the Lawson Ice Arena.
