Box Score FAIRBANKS - The comeback kids struck again on Friday night, as the Alaska Nanooks fought back with two third period goals to earn a 2-1 win over Ferris State in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play.
Josh Erickson started the comeback for the Nanooks (11-8-0, 6-7 WCHA) as he forced a turnover in the Ferris (9-10-1) zone and roofed it over C.J. Motte's glove to tie the game. Peter Krieger gave the Nanooks the lead later in the period, as he tipped home following an exceptional pass from Tayler Munson.
Post-Game Interview
Six of Alaska's 11 wins this season have come after recovering from losing positions, including two on the current three-game winning streak and three of its last four victories.
Davis Jones stopped 21 of 22 shots to earn his eighth win of the campaign.
The Nanooks dominated the opening half of the first period, outshooting the Bulldogs 7-0 in the first ten minutes, but Motte was able to stop everything thrown his way. As Ferris State grew into the game, the Bulldogs created chances of their own, and finally opened the scoring late in the period.
Jared VanWormer finished from close range after the puck pin-balled off of Gerald Mayhew and Simon Denis on the power play.
Despite a 16-7 shot advantage, the Nanooks could not find a way through Motte in the opening frame. The second period was much tighter, dominated by physical play as both teams tried to enforce its will by taking the body.
In the third, the Nanooks came out rampant and finally got the goal they deserved, as Erickson tied the game just 2:44 into the final frame. Both teams searched for the winning goal, but it was Alaska who would net the winner, as Munson spun a no-look pass to Krieger who slipped the deciding goal past Motte.
Late in the game, Alaska was down a man on the penalty kill, but Jones turned away everything he faced, and Colton Parayko, Josh Atkinson and Trevor Campbell threw their bodies in front of a number of shots to preserve the win.
Alaska will look to make it four in a row and back-to-back WCHA sweeps as it takes on Ferris State on Saturday, at 7:07 p.m. AKT.
