Matt Hubbarde lines up for a faceoff against LIU on Feb. 28, 2025.
Alexis Friedman
2
Alas. Fairbanks UAF 12-13-6
4
Winner LIU LIU 19-12-2
Alas. Fairbanks UAF
12-13-6
2
Final
4
LIU LIU
19-12-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 F
Alas. Fairbanks UAF 1 0 1 2
LIU LIU 2 0 2 4

Game Recap: Men's Ice Hockey | | Nathan Kyle Pearsall, Sports Information Director

Nanooks Fall to Sharks in Game One of Final Series

EAST MEADOW, New York - The Nanooks hockey team fell to the LIU Sharks on Friday, Feb. 28. The 'Nooks end their season tomorrow with a rematch at 3:30 p.m. AKST.

The loss drops the Nanooks to 12-13-6.

How it Happened
Alaska struck first, scoring on the power play. Braden Birnie, the Nanooks captain, found the back of the net after Nathan Rickey fired a shot on net from the point. Through the bodies out front, Birnie found the loose puck in the crease and slid home the night's opener. 10 minutes later, LIU tied the game up, also on the power play. Nearly six minutes later, with just 5.3 seconds remaining in the first, the Sharks took a 2-1 lead on a Josh Zary goal. 

The two sides skated to a scoreless second period but 1:42 into the third, the Nanooks found the equalizer off the stick of Luke Johnson. Johnson played a loose puck near center ice after Matt Hubbarde disrupted an LIU pass. Johnson brought the puck into the attacking zone and fired a shot past LIU netminder Noah Rupprecht to tie the game at 2-2 only 1:42 into the third. Unfortunately, the Sharks put up two unanswered goals, including an empty-netter with 26.1 seconds left to grab the 4-2 win. 

Inside the Numbers
  • Alaska managed only 16 shots on goal at LIU tonight. LIU posted 27 with Lassi Lehti making 23 saves while allowing three goals. 
  • Lehti made seven saves in the first, 11 in the second, and five in the third. 
  • Luke Johnson tallied his second goal of the season tonight. This was his first goal since the 2024-25 season-opener on Oct. 5 against Penn State.
  • Braden Birnie scored his fourth goal of the season; his first since Nov. 29 at Minnesota. 
  • Alaska added another power-play goal, their 14th of the year. They have now scored a power-play goal in three-straight games, the second-time this year they've scored one in three-straight games.
  • The Nanooks killed 3-5 penalties tonight while going 1-4 on the power play. 
  • William Lawson-Body won eight faceoffs to lead the 'Nooks in the circle. Chase Dafoe went 7-6 in the circle. LIU had the edge on the Nanooks, winning 28-53 bouts. 
What's to Come
Tomorrow is the finale for the 2024-25 season. The two sides battle at 3:30 p.m. AKST. Catch all of the action on ESPN+ or KSUA 91.5 FM.

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