The Northern Michigan Wildcats completed their two-game sweep of Alaska Fairbanks Saturday night by beating the Nanooks 3-2 in the second game of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Playoffs.
The first period of action looked like a copy of Friday’s game as Northern Michigan’s goaltender Tuomas Tarkki came up big time after time. The Nanooks gained two separate man advantage chances on NMU penalties, but their efforts were thwarted by solid defense from the ‘Cats goalie. At the end of the period the Nanooks trailed 1-0 after Tarkki, turned away three times as many shots as UAF’s Keith Bartusch.
The Nanooks answered back at 11:05 of the second period on a goal from senior forward, Cory Rask. UAF would again get one past Tarkki on a power play drive when Felipe Larranaga fed Ryan Campbell for the 2-1 lead at 15:34 of the second stanza.
However, no sooner than 24 seconds later, the Wildats found their answer when sophomore defenseman Nathan Oystrick lit the lamp. The score remained tied to the end of the period
Keeping in mind NMU lost for the first (and second) time ever to UAF back in January, when the Nanooks swept them, they were determined to get their revenge. The Wildcats capitalized on a scoring drive as Justin Kinnunen found the back of the net to tally the game-winner at 3:44 of the third period.
The loss brings the Nanooks season to a close as they finish with a 16-18-1 record overall.
Northern Michigan, now 19-14-4 overall, will now take part in the CCHA Super Six CCHA Championship at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Mich.
