ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Sophomore forward Steven Jandric scored twice, while junior netminder Anton Martinsson turned away all 22 shots to lift the Alaska Nanooks Hockey team to a 4-0 victory over in-state rival Alaska Anchorage in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association contest at the Sullivan Arena on Friday night. The win improves Alaska's overall record to 11-19-3 and 11-14-2-2 in WCHA play, while the Seawolves drop to 3-27-3 on the season and 2-22-3-2 in conference contests.

Alaska earns three WCHA points in Friday's victory, totaling 37 points through 27 league games this season. The Nooks remain seated in seventh place in the conference standings, while Alaska Anchorage stays in 10th.

"The group played well tonight," head coach Erik Largen said on Friday. "When we were managing the puck and using our team speed, we had a lot of success. We know we need to be even better tomorrow against a competitive UAA team."

The 2019 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup is determined by whichever team has the most WCHA points at the conclusion of the four-game series. Friday's victory puts the Nanooks up 2-1 over the Seawolves in the race for the Cup, with Alaska registering six WCHA points to UAA's three. The Nanooks only need to garner one point tomorrow, which they can do by outright winning in regulation or the first, five-minute overtime or by tying UAA through 65 minutes.

If both teams should be tied at six points following the game tomorrow, the 2019 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup will be determined by a shootout.

Sophomore forward Max Newton opened up the scoring on Friday night, netting an even-strength tally at 14:40 of the first period. Newton buried a rebound from fellow sophomore forward Justin Young's shot on goal. Junior defenseman James LaDouce was credited with the secondary assist.

At 8:46 in the second period, Alaska went on the power play with junior forward Kylar Hope winning the face-off in the UAA defensive zone. Hope won the puck back to freshman defenseman Chris Jandric, who stepped in to the one-timer from the blueline. Alaska Anchorage's goaltender Kristian Stead was able to make the initial save on C. Jandric's shot before S. Jandric picked up the rebound and backhanded in his 11th of the season only three seconds into the power play.

Senior forward Ryker Leer was also able to capitalize on the power play, earning his 16th goal of the season at 3:29 of the third period to make it 3-0 Nanooks. Leer picked up the puck from the corner, walking off the wall into the high slot before firing a wristshot passed Stead, who was screened by fellow senior forward Chad Staley.

The Nooks made it 4-0 when S. Jandric scored his second of the night, 12th of the season, after walking across the goal line and sneaking one past Stead at 14:06 of the third period.

In net, Martinsson turned away all 22 shots from UAA on Friday night, earning his second shutout of the season and third of his career. It is also Martinsson's first back-to-back shutout performances of his career.

On the other side of the ice, Stead made 23 saves against the Nanooks, including 11 in the first period. Alaska outshot their opponent 27-22.

The Nanooks went 2-for-6 on the power play, while the Seawolves went 0-for-5 on the man-advantage.

The Alaska Nanooks will take on the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves tomorrow (Saturday, Mar. 2) in their final game of the 2018-19 regular season and game four of the 2019 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup. Puck-drop at the Sullivan Arena is set for 7:07pm AKST.

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