MANKATO, Minn. – The Alaska Nanooks hockey team fell in game one at Minnesota State 0-4. Mankato outshot the Nanooks 7-39 including 0-14 in the final period. This loss drops the 'Nooks to 10-11-0, 8-7-0 WCHA.
 
The Mavericks led the offensive front to start the game, putting 12 shots on Martinsson in the first 20 minutes. While the Sweden-native held strong in net, one late rebound was all that was needed by Mankato. Dallas Gerads entered the zone with the puck with just under two minutes remaining and fired a wrist shot off the blocker of the Alaska netminder, unfortunately for the 'Nooks the rebound landed right on the stick of Edwin Hookenson who slotted the puck past a diving Martinsson making it 0-1 Mavericks with only 1:41 remaining in the first period. 
 
MSU took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission. The Mavericks kept the pressure on the 'Nooks into the second period, only allowing two shots on goal by Alaska. Martinsson stood his ground in the crease however, stopping all 13 shots coming his way in the second keeping the game at 1-0 before the final 20 minutes of play. 
 
The third period spelled the end for Alaska unfortunately; 1:12 into the final period, Marc Michaelis scored in similar fashion to the first Maverick goal as Parker Tuomie put a shot off the blocker of Martinsson which was then rebounded to Michaelis who found the back of the net. Only five minutes later, Michaelis scored again, putting a shot five-hole on net from the left face-off circle. Martinsson caught a piece of it but that was not enough to make the save as the puck skipped to the back of the net making it 0-3, just over five minutes into the final period. 
 
Just before the game came to an end, the Mavericks went on one last power play, their fifth, and they capitalized for a second time when Parker Tuomie scored on the back door after Michaelis sent the pass in front of the crease. 
 
The Nanooks and Mavericks meet one more time this season on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 3:07 p.m. AKT and Alaska will look to grab their ninth consecutive split. 
 
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter, or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey team on Facebook.