FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks grabbed a 5-1 win over the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves on Saturday, Feb. 1. The win moves Alaska to 9-11-5 on the year and gives them a 3-2 advantage in this season's Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup.

How it Happened
The Nanooks needed only 34 seconds to get on the board on Saturday. Matt Hubbarde extended his goal-scoring streak to six games after firing a shot from the slot and beating UAA netminder, Greg Orosz. Kyle Gaffney and Broten Saboearned the assists on the first goal. Five and a half minutes later Sabo found the back of the net. The defenseman entered the zone after intercepting the puck and following a shifty move and shot, put his own rebound home for a 2-0 lead. This goal was unassisted and gave the Nanooks a comfortable early lead. They were not done there; Hubbarde tallied one more in the first, making it a 3-0 advantage for Alaska after 20 minutes. Haden Kruse put a shot on net, but Orosz's save turned into a rebound opportunity for Hubbarde outside the crease and the forward did not miss. 

After scoring three goals in the opening 8:32, the Nanooks would go scoreless until the third. UAA would get on the board in the second as Maximilion Helgeson made it 3-1 with a power-play goal 13:13 into the second, but that was the Seawolves lone goal on the night. 

Chase Dafoe extended the lead for the Nanooks with a redirect out front of the net. Matt Hubbarde fired a shot that glanced off of Dafoe's lower-half and into the back of the net. Sabo picked up his third point of the night with the secondary assist on Dafoe's goal. After UAA pulled their goalie, the Nanooks added one final goal. Matt Hubbarde finished off the quest for a hat-trick with an empty-net goal. Adam Cardonafired at the goal from the opposite side and Hubbarde was able to chase down the loose puck and beat the trailing UAA defender for his third goal of the night, giving the Nanooks a 5-1 victory. 

Inside the Numbers

• Matt Hubbarde has now scored a goal in six straight games. In six games, the forward has scored nine goals. He finished with an assist alongside his three goals, posting a four-point game, the first since Brady Risk on March 6, 2024 against Stonehill (2A, 2G - 4P).
• Broten Sabo added a three-point performance with one goal and two assists. That was Sabo's third multi-point performance of the year. 
• Sabo's goal was his seventh this year and his fourth game-winning goal of the season. That mark leads the Nanooks and his seven goals is third on the 'Nooks. 
• Chase Dafoe picked up his eighth goal of the season, good for second on the team. He trails only Hubbarde (12).
• Kyle Gaffney picked up his 12th assist of the season. He leads the Nanooks with a dozen. Sabo now has 11 after his two tonight. 
• Lassi Lehti picked up his second-straight win. He made 32 saves tonight, making seven in the first, 16 in the second, and nine in the third.
• Alaska's penalty kill went 7-8 while their power play went 1-6. 
• Six Nanooks scored a point tonight with 11 total points being picked up. 
• The 'Nooks had the advantage in the faceoff circle, winning 39-63 bouts. Kyle Gaffney went 15-7 to lead the Nanooks. Chase Dafoe went 9-4 in the circle. 

What's to Come
These two teams battle one more time next weekend. They'll battle on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 5:07 p.m. for the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup. It'll also be Senior Day; come out to celebrate all Nanooks seniors and stay after for the trophy presentation. 

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