BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – After a disappointing loss on Friday, the Alaska Nanooks hockey team responded on Saturday night with a 3-3 overtime tie against the No. 16th-ranked Bowling Green Falcons in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association contest at the Slater Family Ice Arena. Junior forward Kylar Hope scored a power play goal in double-overtime to give the Nanooks the extra WCHA point.

The tie moves Alaska's overall record to 9-18-3 and 9-13-2-2 in conference contests, while Bowling Green drops to 19-8-4 on the season and 14-7-3-2 in WCHA play. The Nooks walk away with two WCHA points following Saturday's tie, while the Falcons earn one.

At the time of article, Alaska holds sole possession of seventh place in the WCHA standings with 31 points, while the Falcons remain tied for second with Lake Superior State, each with 47 points.

"It was a nice comeback game from our group," head coach Erik Largen said on Saturday. "There was a high compete level and sense of urgency right from the start. It was great to see our guys get rewarded for taking care of the puck, moving their feet and trying to play the game the right way. Now it's time to come back to the Carlson Center for a tough test against Mankato on Senior Weekend."

Freshman defenseman Jake Gresh earned his first goal of his career on Saturday, netting an even-strength tally 53 seconds into the first period. Sophomore forward Steven Jandric beat a Bowling Green defenseman in a footrace in the offensive zone, collecting the puck in the corner before passing to Gresh, who was creeping in on the weak side. S. Jandric earns his 10th assist of the season on Gresh's tally, while junior forward Kyle Marino was awarded the secondary for his fifth of the season.

Bowling Green tied things up 1-1 at the 3:03 mark of the first, as Connor Ford scored shorthanded for his 13th of the season. Nanook freshman goaltender Gustavs Grigals mishandled the puck on the power play breakout, resulting in an Alaska turnover. BGSU's Stephen Baylis corralled the puck along the wall before kicking it to Ford in the slot, who caught Grigals out of position in the net.

Junior defenseman Tristan Thompson scored his sixth of the season on the power play, giving the Nooks a 2-1 lead at the 12:56 mark of the first. Hope worked the puck along the wall in the offensive zone before passing to Thompson along the blueline. Thompson walked off the wall and took ice into the high slot before ripping a slapshot past BGSU's netminder Ryan Bednard. Thompson's power play goal was assisted by Hope and S. Jandric.

Before the first period siren rang, the Nooks got on the board once-more, as junior forward Tyler Cline also scored a power play goal to make it 3-1 Alaska. The Nanooks were pressuring the BGSU net before Cline collected the loose puck and went upstairs on Bednard for his third of the season. Cline's power play goal was assisted by Hope for his second apple of the game and S. Jandric, for his third point of the night.

Twenty-five second into the second stanza, Bowling Green made it 3-2 courtesy of Cameron Wright. Wright knocked down a long shot from the point, catching Grigals frozen, before making a quick move to earn his eighth goal of the season. Wright's even-strength goal was assisted by Alec Rauhauser and Baylis.

The Falcons tied the game at 3-3 with a power play goal from Will Cullen in the second period. BGSU's Lukas Craggs walked along the wall into the Alaska zone before passing to Baylis on the strong-side post. Baylis was able to make a touch-pass along the crease to Cullen, who was sitting backdoor.

After a scoreless third period, the Nanooks and the Falcons were deadlocked in a 3-3 tie, which extended into the five-minute, 5-on-5 overtime. Following 65 minutes of play, the conference contest is officially considered a tie with both teams walking away with one WCHA point. In the first overtime period, Grigals made seven saves with the Nanooks killing a S. Jandric slashing penalty for 42 seconds.

The Nanooks kicked-off the five-minute overtime on a 4-on-3 disadvantage, continuing to kill S. Jandric's penalty that carried into double-overtime. Alaska returned to full strength before BGSU's Sam Craggs took a hooking penalty at 1:50 of the second OT.

The Nooks were on a 4-on-3 man-advantage before Hope was able to tip-in a pass from Cline backdoor at the 2:44 mark of double-overtime to give Alaska the extra conference point. Grigals made one save in double-overtime.

In net, Grigals collected 33 saves through 65 minutes of play, including 12 in the first period alone. On the other end of the ice, BGSU's Bednard registered 26 saves against the Nanooks, including 14 in the third period. Bowling Green edged the Nanooks in total shots on goal, 36-29.

In special teams play, Alaska went 2-for-6 on the power play, while Bowling Green went 1-for-6 on the man-advantage.

The Alaska Nanooks will host the Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks in a two-game WCHA series next Friday, Feb. 22 and Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Carlson Center, which will also mark their final home series of the season. Puck-drop both nights is scheduled for 7:07pm AKST.

There are multiple promotions and specials going on for the MSU series, including buy one ticket, get one ticket free, $5 wings and $4 Coors Lights all weekend. Additionally, fans can enter to win two round-trip tickets anywhere Alaska Airlines flies on Friday only and must be present to win at the beginning of the third period on Saturday. Fans can earn multiple entries by spending $40-or-more at either the Face-Off Club table or the UAF Bookstore table both nights. Lastly, and most importantly, Saturday's game will be the Alaska Nanooks' Senior Night, honoring Nikolas Koberstein, Ryker Leer, Chad Staley and Jack Weiss.

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey team page on Facebook.