FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks hockey team picked up a 1-1 tie at No. 3/4 Minnesota on Friday, Nov. 29. The tie moves the Nanooks to 4-6-3 on the season.

How it Happened
Braden Birnie got the scoring started 7:52 into the first period, using a deflection off of a Gopher stick to make it 1-0 Nanooks. Matt Hubbarde carried the puck into the attacking zone before dropping the puck to Birnie. From the goal line, the Nanooks captain fired a pass intended for Hubbarde, but the puck was redirected past Minnesota netminder, Nathan Airey, making it 1-0 Alaska. This goal was one of four shots-on-goal for the Nanooks in the opening 20 minutes while Nicholas Grabko made 12 saves in net for the Nanooks in the first. 

In the second period, Minnesota found the equalizer 14:45 in on a Beckett Hendrickson goal. Brody Lamb found Hendrickson on the backdoor as he slashed to the net, making it 1-1. That score would stick for the remainder of the game. 

Grabko made nine saves in the second before posting 11 more in the third, surviving an onslaught of shots from the Gophers offense in the final two periods. His incredible performance carried into the 3v3 overtime period where he made four more saves, finishing the game with 36 saves on 37 shots for a .972 save percentage. Following the overtime period and official tie, the two sides faced off in a shootout; the Nanooks won it with Chase Dafoe making the only shootout attempt. Grabko was successful in net on all three attempts from Minnesota. 

Inside the Numbers

• Alaska did not see a power play on the night. They also managed to kill both Minnesota attempts on the PK, allowing three total shots.
• Alaska blocked 26 shots in Friday's game. This is the second time this season they've eclipsed the 20-block mark and is the most in a game since Feb. 3, 2023, a 2-1 win at home over Arizona State. The Nanooks posted 30 blocks that night. 
• 14 Nanooks who suited up recorded a block in the Friday tie. Haden Kruse led the way with four blocked shots.
• With the assist, Matt Hubbarde joins Matt Koethe and Broten Sabo at the top of the Nanooks stats with seven points this year. 
• Kyle Gaffney won 11 of his 19 bouts in the face-off circle tonight. The Nanooks fell to Minnesota in the circle 19-23.
• Grabko's 36-save performance gives him three 30+ save nights this year. The grad-transfer upped his save percentage on the year to .910 while dropping his GAA to 2.37 after one goal in 65 minutes. 

What's to Come
The Nanooks and Gophers meet one more time tomorrow at 2 p.m. AKST. Catch the action on B1G+ and KSUA 01.5 FM with Bruce Cech.

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