MANKATO, Minn. -- Over the last two games, the Alaska Nanooks men's hockey team had to overcome an early first period deficit to pick up a pair of wins. On Friday, the Nanooks once again found themselves behind in the first period, but unlike their previous two contests, they could not mount a comeback, as Alaska drops its 2015-16 Western Collegiate Hockey Association opener at Minnesota State, 5-2.
Alaska (2-3-0, 0-1-0 WCHA) allowed three first period goals to the Mavericks (3-4-0, 3-0-0 WCHA), as the Nanooks entered the first intermission trailing for the third-straight game. It looked like Alaska would rally once again in the second period, as they collected two goal in the first five minutes. Marcus Basara got the Nanooks on the point just 24 seconds into the frame, as he helped Alaska converted on a power play and sophomore Peter Krieger brought Alaska within one with his second goal of the season at the 4.37-mark.
That would be as close as the Nanooks would get, as Minnesota State pushed its lead back to two at 4-2 with a Bryce Gervais goal in halfway through the second period. MSU added another insurance goal in the third, as Sean Flanagan scored for the second time on the night with 15:12 remaining in the game. The 5-2 score would hold until the final horn, as the Mavericks snapped the Nanooks two-game winning streak.
The Nanooks had trouble getting into an offensive rhythm all afternoon, as they managed just 13 shots on goal. Conversely, Minnesota State was able to snap out of their recent offensive funk, as they scored a season-high five goals and put 45 shots on goal. Junior goalie Davis Jones collected a career-best 40 saves, but was unable to come up with the victory, as he falls to 1-3-0 on the year.
Alaska will have a chance to split its WCHA-opening weekend tomorrow, as they'll conclude the two-game series with the Mavericks at 4:07 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato, Minnesota.
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