Nanooks down Falcons 3-2

Fairbanks, AK – Bowling Green was unable to create enough prime chances Friday night and fell to the Alaska Nanooks 3-2.

Chris Nell started in net for the Falcons, making 25 saves on 28 shots faced. Jesse Jenks got the nod for the Nanooks, making 21 saves on 23 attempts.

First Period

Alaska opened scoring at 6:12 of the first period. Marcus Basara wristed a shot from the deep slot. The puck deflected off Alec Rauhauser’s stick, bounced on the ice in front of Nell, and hopped over his pad for the game’s first goal.

The Falcons finished the first period with six shots on net, while the Nanooks had nine attempts in the first period.

Second Period

Mark Friedman tied the game at 4:12 of the second period on the power play. Mitch McLain passed to Stephen Baylis, who found Mark Friedman at the point. Friedman loaded up and fired a slap shot beating Jenks for his fifth goal of the season.

Alaska responded just a few moments later, though, as John Mullally finished a rebound at 4:56 to give the Nanooks a 2-1 lead. The Nanooks then tacked on their third goal at 11:08 as Colton Leiter squeezed the puck between Nell and the near-side post as he wrapped around the net.

Bowling Green finished the second period with nine shots on net, while Alaska had 13 shots on Nell.

Third Period

The Falcons scored their second goal at 19:54 of the third period with Chris Nell on the bench for an extra attacker. Lukas Craggs was able to score from an extreme angle. Mitch McLain and Stephen Baylis assisted on the play.

The Falcons weren’t able to score the tying goal and the Nanooks won the game 3-2.

But, at the end of the game Tyler Spezia checked Zach Frye from behind into the boards which set off a short line brawl on the ice. Spezia was assessed a five-minute penalty for checking from behind and a ten-minute game misconduct penalty. Stephen Baylis and Mitch McLain were also assessed ten-minute game misconduct penalties. Alaska’s Marcus Basara and Ross Heidt were assessed ten-minute game misconduct penalties. All penalties can be viewed in the game’s box score.

All game misconduct penalties are automatically reviewed by the WCHA league office for additional discipline. Any additional discipline will be announced Saturday afternoon.

Bowling Green finished the third period with eight shots on net, while Alaska had six shots.

With the loss the Falcons fall to 8-11-2, 7-7-1-1. The Nanooks improve to 6-11-2, 5-8-2-2. The teams will conclude their weekend series Saturday night at 11:07(e).