Nanooks Salvage Weekend Split

Saturday, January 7, 2004
Carlson Center, Fairbanks, Alaska

Tonights game, close through two periods of play, was decided by a third period pair of goals, this time for the Nanooks. Keeping pressure on Michigan from the opening face off and through the game Alaska found a way to get the job done down the stretch to salvage a weekend split and keep their hopes of home ice alive in the CCHA race.

As expected the Nanooks hit the ice bringing everything they had to give to start this game, looking to snag the games first goal and get the momentum going their way. That intense pressure would lead to a Michigan penalty with just over six minutes to play, but the Wolverines would kill off the penalty without giving up a goal.

Shortly after killing off their first penalty of the night, the Wolverines would get their chance on the power play as the Nanooks headed to the sin bin. Picking up where they left off last night the Wolverines capitalized on the man advantage to score the games first goal. Using some great passing through the Nanook zone Michigan got the puck to Ebbett who buried it for the score. Assists on the power play goal went to Hensick and Gajic.

With just over ten minutes to go the Nanooks were once again headed to the penalty box for charging the goal tender and Michigan was looking to get out to an early two goal lead. While the Wolverines were getting some good pressure on the Nanook net, Alaska would get loose with the puck, break out of their zone, and fly into the Michigan zone where they scored a short handed goal with seven and half minutes yet to play.

The last minutes of the period would see both teams with some scoring chances, but neither team would be able to score another as the first period came to an end with the game all tied at one goal each. Shots on goal were in Alaskas favor as they finish the period with a fourteen to ten advantage in the category.

The Wolverines were whistled for a penalty at the end of the first period, putting the Nanooks on the power play to open the second period. With the extra attacker the Nanooks did just that, they attacked, putting pressure on the Michigan goal right from the start of the period. Taking 1:22 of the power play the Nanooks waited for the opening their work created, banging the puck home for the power play goal to take the lead.

The Nanooks maintained their lead for several minutes, but the flow of the game started to tilt toward the Wolverines. With just over nine minutes played the increased pressure being applied by Michigan would pay off as they would once again tie the game. Michigan would work the puck around the zone, keeping one pass ahead of the Nanook defense. Finally, through all the bodies Tambellini got the puck to Gajic who was wide open to the left of the net. With a little move Gajic chipped the puck into the net for Michigans second score of the game. Tambellini got the lone assist.

Less than one minute later, with the Wolverines now swarming, Martens would find a way to get the puck in the net and Michigan suddenly had a one goal lead. Martens had pinched down low and was at or slightly behind the goal line with the puck. He reached out and around with his stick to slip the puck into the net, behind the net minder, for the go ahead tally. Assists went to Ebbett and Rohlfs.

The Wolverines would hold onto that lead for about five minutes when the Nanooks would once again take advantage of their power play and tie the game. Taking a shot from the left point the Nanooks got it past Montoya for the tying goal.

That's the way period two would end, with the game tied at three goals each. The period would also end with both teams having taken twenty-three shots.

The Nanooks would take the fight to the Wolverines in the third period, finding ways to score and win the game. The first goal of the period and the eventual game winner came with just over thirteen minutes to play in the game. A slap shot from the center of the blue line was deflected down low, sending the puck into the upper left corner of the net.

That slim one goal lead would hold for almost ten minutes before the Nanooks would get an insurance goal. Michigan had been turning up the pressure as they looked to tie the game, but that slightly out of control hockey led to a breakdown, that in turn led to a Nanook two on one break. As they entered the Michigan zone they worked the puck for the best shot, eventually get a wrist shot past Montoya for their fifth goal of the night.

That's how the game would end, a five to three Nanook victory. The Nanooks ended the game with a thirty-three to thirty-one advantage in shots on goal.

The Wolverines take a slight step backward in their hunt for first place in the CCHA as they run into a Nanook buzz saw and come home with just two points on the weekend. Michigan still has games in hand as they get ready for next weekends match up against the conference leading Redhawks. With Miami now three points ahead of Michigan this series looks even larger than it did just two short days ago. This is roughly the same position Michigan was in last year when they prepared to face Ferris for a late season show down. Ferris got the better of that weekend and walked away with the conference championship. Michigan or Miami can do the same next weekend which should result in some fantastic hockey.