Although the outcome wasn't as great, the game started off as well as anyone could have hoped. An inopportune penalty to Ferris State's Travis Ouellette just 1:17 into the 1st, didn't even take the Nanooks power play unit, who is now at 75% on the weekend on a goal from Jarret Granberg in the slot, who picks up his second goal of the weekend, with assists from Yaremchuk and Enders.
Ferris State's goal scorer Jordie Johnston tied the game about 2 minutes later off a faceoff in the Nanooks zone. A nice play from Kirzinger who won it clean that caught the 'Nooks by surprise.
However, 4 straight penalties throughout the second half of the period to the Nanooks forced the penalty kill to get some extra work, but the special teams unit prevailed for the Nanooks in the first period, and throughout the series really.
The 2nd period took some interesting turns, but Chad Billins was the difference maker with a goal after he weaved his way around Finucci and beat Greenham low glove side and off the inside of the post. The Nanooks looked to get the equalizer as a tripping call to Scott Czarnowzan gave the Nanooks just their 2nd power play chance, but it was a bit short lived as FSU's defensive pressure forced a turnover at the blueline as Garrett Thompson poked the puck ahead, and a faux slashing penalty was called on Yaremchuk for touching him with his stick. Impressive decision for a call on the hands on the officials that appears to be clearly biased for the FSU alum Keith Sergott.
Ron Meyers also got penalized for charging the goalie as Nelson intentionally got in his way to block Ronnie from getting to the puck to create a play. In true double jeopardy fashion, if I had his jersey on I would show them a real charging call. Tack on another soft call on Quinn for roughing after the whistle, and at this point, you have 7 penalties on the Nanooks, compared to just 2 for FSU.
In the 3rd, the Nanooks got a big goal after FSU was forced to ice the puck. Coach Ferguson elected to send in his fresh first line, as Kunyk won the draw back to Taranto, who beat Taylor Nelson like a rented mule. And like that its tied at 2-2.
A bit later, Nanook freshman forward Garrick Perry hooked up Ronnie Meyers on the back door as the Nanooks get the go ahead goal. A beautiful pass leaves Nelson with nothing that he can possibly do to stop it as the Nanooks go up 3-2.
A few minutes later, Matthew Kirzinger got the hook up pass in the neutral zone by Garrett Thompson. Kirzinger used his feed to his advantage, crashed the net and got the puck past Greenham for the tie. Then with 5:30 remaining, and Andy Taranto in the box for hooking, Ferris State broke through the wall that was the Nanooks PK unit as Garret Thompson directed the puck in front of the net for the go ahead goal.
With 1:33 remaining, and the timeout called, Greenham was pulled to go 6 on 5. After a strong offensive stand, Ferris State's top scorer of the weekend in Matthew Kirzinger gets flagged for delay of game for knocking his own net off the moorings. Now with 6 on 4, the Nanooks continued to pressure, and get shots on goal. Although a little frantic, the Nanooks kept getting shots off with traffic in front and just hoping something would stick. Unfortunately, nothing did and the Nanooks fell to a deceptively good Ferris State team 4-3.
The Nanooks return head back to Fairbanks tomorrow as school prepares to start this Thursday. The team takes to the ice in the friendly confines of the Carlson Center next weekend against Bowling Green to start a two week home stand.
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