MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Alaska Nanooks fell to the #8/8 Minnesota Gophers on Friday, Jan. 14 in 3M Arena at Mariucci. 

Two first-period goals was all Minnesota needed to put away the Nanooks. Tristan Broz scored 13:53 into the first period, taking a pass from Mike Koster to give the Gophers a 1-0 lead. Just before the end of the first, the Gophers found the back of the net one more time as Matthew Knies beat Grigals in net. 

Alaska capitalized on a middle-stanza power-play opportunity as Payton Matsui snuck the puck five-hole on Justen Close, Minnesota's netminder, off of a Roberts Kalkis shot and rebound. Arvils Bergmanis was given the secondary assist on Matsui's goal. This made it 2-1 going into the third. Unfortunately for the 'Nooks, the Gophers' Blake McLaughlin made it 3-1, 5:15 into the final period. 

10 minutes later, Minnesota added an empty-netter from Jackson LaCombe making the final 4-1. Gustavs Davis Grigals made 22 saves in net. Matsui and Eriks Zohovs led the way for the Nanooks in the faceoff circle, both going .500 as Matsui won seven and Zohovs won four. 

The two teams face one last team tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 15 at 3:00 p.m. AKT. 

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