After two weeks away from the Carlson Center ice, the Nanooks came back home and won in a surreal game with the Northern Michigan Wildcats, 4-3 in a shootout tonight.  So surreal that I thought the Blue & Gold would give this game away. 

I think we can thank Andy Taranto for keeping the team in the game the whole night.  The freshman from the Chicagoland area scored two goals (both in the second period), then secured the night with the go-ahead shootout goal before NMU's Erik Gustafson missed his shot on net to secure the victory for the Nanooks.

After witnessing this win, a few things I noticed:

1)  Two points is better than just earning one point and losing it in the shootout.  Any way to not only win but to earn more than one point is a better way to increase your chances at moving up in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings.

2)  The quick timeout in the early portion of the second period by Dallas Ferguson.  I don't think the Nanooks were communicating on the ice, but whatever Dallas told them during the timeout worked.  The Taranto goals, including a power-play goal after the Wildcats were caught with too many men on the ice midway through the period, gave Alaska a major boost to carry into the third period.  That gave them the 3-2 lead after two.

3)  Terrible penaties that were not recognizable by anyone in the crowd.   Bryant Molle was whistled twice for holding and interference in the third period.  It did cost the Nanooks a penalty kill as the Wildcats tied up the contest at 3-3. 

It was back and forth scoreboard wise, but the Nanooks were very slow picking up any offensive threats.  Especially in the overtime period, I noticed that the Nanooks were rarely in the Wildcat zone, barely making attempts at any shots.  NMU were all over the place, especially Ray Kaunisto, NMU's 6'4" forward who scored the game's first goal.  He was very tough to defend against.

The Wildcats had players who handled the puck very well.  Walt Kyle's hockey club were very disciplined tonight.  I think this team will come back much tougher on Saturday night.  As for the Nanooks, they need to come out firing on all cylinders.  If they can get an early lead within the game's first five minutes, I believe they will stay in the game the rest of the evening and just keep attacking the net.  Alaska outshot NMU 40-27 in regulation play (41-28 overall).

One last thing:  with both Miami (Ohio) Redhawks and Michigan State Spartans playing non-conference games this weekend, the Nanooks have an opportunity to be tied with Michigan State for second-place in the CCHA by Saturday night.  A win within at least overtime tonight, and a win tomorrow night would have propelled Alaska into sole possession of second-place in the conference going into next weekend's road trip at Western Michigan. 

Saturday's face-off is scheduled again at 7:35 pm on Saturday.

LZV