Alaska Scores Late Shorthanded Goal To Beat Falcons 2-1

Friday, February 19

Fairbanks, Alaska

11:07 PM

Bowling Green State University

16-11-6, 12-6-5WCHA

Alaska

8-17-4, 6-13-4WCHA

Bowling Green

Alaska

Photo by: Brad Phalin, BGSU Marketing and Communications

February 20, 2016 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: by Jason Knavel, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications

Boxscore

Fairbanks, Alaska – Alaska's Tayler Munson scored a shorthanded goal with just nine seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Nanooks to a 2-1 win over the Bowling Green State University hockey team Friday night in a pivotal Western Collegiate Hockey Association game.

Bowling Green remains tied for second in the WCHA standings after Michigan Tech dropped a 3-0 decision to Bemidji State earlier in the evening. The Falcons, though, squandered an opportunity to move closer to idle Minnesota State at the top of the league standings.

The two teams each posted 34 shots on goal but Alaska held a 16-6 edge in the first period and built a 1-0 lead as Alec Hajdukovich lifted a rebound over the outstretched leg of BGSU goalie Chris Nell. His goal came at the 8:45 mark of the first period and stood up until early in the third.

The Falcons took control of the game by outshooting Alaska 16-8 in the second and earned an early power play chance in the third. Although Bowling Green did not score with the man advantage, the Falcons used the momentum gained to tie the contest moments later. Tyler Spezia's initial shot on goal rebounded to himself and he was able to beat Alaska goalie Jesse Jenks with the second chance to tie the game at 4:30 of the final frame.

It was Spezia's eighth goal of the season, while Mitch McLain recorded his fourth assist and Sean Walker his 13^th, tied for team-high honors.

It remained tied for much of the remainder of the contest and Bowling Green drew a penalty with just 38 seconds left in regulation. But Munson flipped the script and got the shorthanded goal for the win.

Bowling Green finished the game 0-for-4 on the power play and Alaska went 0-for-3.

With the win, Alaska improves to 8-17-4 overall and 6-13-4 in the WCHA. Bowling Green falls to 16-11-6 overall and 12-6-5 in league action. The two teams will meet again Saturday at 11:07 pm EST.

Postgame Notes
* Tyler Spezia's goal was his 20^th career point. He has 12 points this year after eight as a freshman.
* Chris Nell went over 1,000 career saves in the loss. Gary Kruzich (1983-87) posted a program-record 3,580 saves.
* Sean Walker now has assists in three of the last four games and has five assists in the past seven games overall.