FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks hockey team picked up a 2-1 win in the Carlson Center on Saturday night. The win over Augustana moves Alaska to 5-8-3 on the year and drops AU to 9-7-0 on the season.

How it Happened
Three goals were scored tonight, one coming in each period. The Nanooks got the scoring started 4:50 into the first as Kyle Gaffney made it 1-0 Nanooks. Gaffney found the back of the net after Braden Birnie found him on a give and go from behind the net. His shot glanced off of Augustana's netminder, Josh Kotai, and went in the back of the net for the early lead. Matt Hubbarde picked up the secondary apple on Gaffney's goal. 

Alaska took the 1-0 lead deep into the second period before Augie tied the game on a Quinn Rudrud goal. Former Nanook Payton Matsui found the other former Nanook slashing to the net for the 1-1 tie. 

In the third period, Chase Dafoe scored the game-winner on a tip out front on a Nathan Rickey shot after a failed clearance attempt by Augustana. Matt Koethe earned the secondary after playing the puck to Rickey off the failed clearance. That goal came 6:48 into the third and the 'Nooks held on for the 2-1 victory.

Inside the Numbers

• Kyle Gaffney's goal gives him five on the year, good for the team lead. He now has nine points on the season, also tying him for a team lead.
• Matt Hubbarde and Matt Koethe picked up their ninth point of the season tonight with a pair of assists. Gaffney, Hubbarde, Koethe, and Broten Sabo all have nine points this season.
• Lassi Lehti made his return to the net for the Nanooks and picked up his first win of the season. He posted 29 saves en route to the victory. 
• Alaska picked up another power-play goal tonight, going 1-5 on the man-advantage. Their kill went 6-6 on the night, keeping Augustana's special teams at bay.
• The Nanooks blocked 16 shots tonight. Braden Birnie ate four to lead the team. Adam Cardona, Peyton Platter, and Nathan Rickey all joined in with a pair. Six others tallied one block.
• Both sides finished .500 in the faceoff circle. Chase Dafoe ended the night with nine wins. Gaffney followed with seven.

What's to Come
The Nanooks will have a break before their next game as they head into the holiday break. Their next action will be on Dec. 28-29 at the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off. They open with UConn on Dec. 28 and will play either Ferris State or the host team, Wisconsin on Dec. 29. Game two is dependent on results from day one. 

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